Sally Smith

Sally Jo Philbrick Smith, 75, of Center, Texas went to her heavenly home on Thursday, October 22, 2015. Funeral service was held October 24 at First Baptist Church in Center with the Reverends Russ Atwood and Lee Dickson officiating. Graveside service was held October 25 at Sibley Cemetery in Florien. Mrs. Smith was born July 26, 1940, in Dallas, Texas to Charles Baxter Philbrick and Thelma Jewel Cunningham Philbrick. She graduated from Sunset high school in Dallas, class of 1958. She received an undergraduate degree in education from Howard Payne University and a graduate degree in Special Education from Stephen F. Austin State University. She was a homemaker, mother and teacher. She was active in ministries to the hearing impaired early in her life, even interpreting at a Billy Graham crusade in Dallas. She was a gifted teacher of God’s word, teaching Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Backyard Bible Clubs, Student ministry, The Esther class at First Baptist Center, and several years of Lay Renewals, Prayer Life, Master Life, Joy Seekers conferences, studies by Beth Moore and Experiencing God, for which she served in the pilot program during the writing of the original workbook. Her life’s mission was to share Jesus with others and teach them how to know God intimately. This took her on mission trips to Korea, Russia, Ukraine, Switzerland, Sweden, Honduras, Mexico and all over the United States. Everywhere she went became a mission field. Even while in the hospital she would tell everyone she met about the Jesus who kept her smiling through the worst of circumstances. Even in her illness she continued sharing Christ through a series of devotional books she wrote entitled, “Come Alone with Me” recounting the activity of God in her life. In 2011 she began packing Samaritan’s Purse Christmas boxes for children in the third world. She purchased the toys and goodies that would fill the boxes throughout the year, writing a personal note to each child and praying over each box. That first year she packed 20 boxes, the following year 61, then 503, 1250 and despite a late start and an early finish, she put together 630 boxes this year. To the very end she never stopped working to build the Kingdom of God. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, the Rev. Carl Smith of Center, Texas; children, Matthew Coleman Smith and wife, Brandi, of Wylie, Texas, Carla Jo Smith Denney and husband, Kurt, of Center, Texas and Jonathan Charles Smith of Atlanta, Georgia; grandchildren, Hannah Marie Chase, Samuel Shelton Chase, Sibley Jo Smith, Elizabeth Jewel Smith, Sydney Faith Denney, and Corey Wayne Denney; sisters, Nancy Joy Philbrick Sague of Hawkins, Texas and Carol Lee Philbrick of Carrollton, Texas and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, Charles Baxter Philbrick and Thelma Jewel Cunningham Philbrick; sister, Doris Mae Philbrick Green; brother-in-law, Kent Sague; maternal grandparents, Walter Woods and Carmen Mae Cunningham Woods; paternal grandparents, Alfonzo Glover Philbrick and Willie Mae Baxter Philbrick and nephew and niece, Mark and Linda Givens. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child, c/o First Baptist Church, 117 Cora Street, Center, Texas 75935 or a charity of your choice. Online condolences & tributes can be sent at www.watsonandsonsfuneralhome.com