Theresa Smith

Theresa Smith, a lifelong resident of New Orleans, Louisiana entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, November 25, 2025 at the age of 75. She was the fifth child born to the union of Rev. Willie Smith and Gertrude Elizabeth Smith in New Orleans, LA on September 16, 1950. Theresa attended James Lewis Elementary School, Carter G. Woodson Middle School, and graduated from Booker T. Washington Senior High School, Class of 1968. She later went on to attend and graduate from Meadows-Draughon Business College for their Business Administrator and Accounting program. Theresa worked many years for Walk Haydel & Associates and then City Government and was affectionately known as “Ms. Tee” by co-workers and “Aunt Tee” by her nieces and nephews. She enjoyed spending time with her great-great nephew and nieces Bentley, Gisele, GiaVonni, and Mazi. She is preceded in death by her parents Rev. Willie and Gertrude Smith, life partner Johnny Young, brothers Herbert “Pat” Lewis and Sims “Bubba” Smith, sister Dawn Marie Freeman (Vernon). She is survived by her only child and loving daughter Rhonda Smith. She is also survived by her sisters Ira Jean Addison Robinson (Lanis), Willie Mae Winding (Otis), nephews William “Bill” Harvey Addison Jr., Hillery Addison, Sr., Horace Gaines Jr., and nieces Erica Holloway and Erin Freeman. Relatives and friends of the family, members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority New Orleans Alumnae Chapter, employees of Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, staff of MICU Ochsner Medical Center Main Campus, and members of Rising Star Baptist Church are invited to attend a Christian Service on Friday, December 5, 2025 at 10:00 AM at D. W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Ave., New Orleans, LA 70125. Visitation will begin at 9:00 AM until the time of service. Officiant Bishop Karl V. Perry of New Journey Word Church. Interment: Providence Memorial Park Cemetery, 8200 Airline Drive, Metairie, LA 70003. Arrangement entrusted to D. W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Ave. Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.com to sign the online guestbook. Funeral will be live streamed @ www.facebook.com/D.W.RhodesFuneralHome/live