Barbara Samson Smith's Obituary
Barbara Samson Smith, 80, stepped into heaven on Tuesday, January 12, 2021.
She was born in Tampa, Florida on August 23, 1940 before moving to Clearwater over fifty years ago. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Stetson University then attended Florida State University where she received her Masters in musical performance. Barbara taught piano for 40 years and served as the church pianist at Skycrest Community (Baptist) Church for 30 years. Although Alzheimer’s took so much from Barbara, up until a week before her passing she could still play the piano and read music.
Barbara loved God, music, all people, serving others, being a greeter at church, spending time with her wonderful neighbors, traveling, taking lots of photos and shopping for antiques, all with her loving and adoring husband Lee by her side. If you saw Lee and Barbara where ever they were they were most likely holding hands. Her joy was always evident and her hugs were epic. She was blessed with friends who were family and to know her was to love her.
Survivors include her husband and the love of her life for over 55 years, Lee Smith, sister Opal Roth, godchildren Shay Phillips (Bryan) and their children Burke and Roan, Spencer Perry and their parents Steven and Linda Perry.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her mother Marie Samson who passed when Barbara was only six, her father, Martin Samson and stepmother Mabel Samson who raised her as her own and her sister Dorothy Gorrell.
The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at the Grand Villa of Dunedin where she and Lee have lived this past year. The staff has embraced them and cared for Barbara with great love and respect and made them feel like family.
There will be a Celebration of Life for Barbara at 10:00AM Saturday, January 23, 2021 at Skycrest Community Church, 125 North Belcher Rd, Clearwater, Florida. For those who may not be able to attend the service will be live streamed at this link as soon as the service begins. https://youtu.be/tvmPYyjWkFo
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