Diane Marie Elizabeth Jones Smith

“O Loving Father and Savior, send your angels to carry the soul of your servant from this earth to the heavenly place of eternal and everlasting life. Let family and friends who have passed before in faith be reunited in joy with the departed. Forgive any wrongs that have been committed and welcome this beloved spirit into the warm embrace of your unending peace. Amen.”
“Lord Jesus Christ, by your own three days in the tomb, you hallowed the graves of all who believe in you and so made the grave a sign of hope that promises resurrection even as it claims our mortal bodies. Grant that our sister may sleep here in peace until you awaken him/her to glory, for you are the resurrection and the life. Then he/she will see you face to face and in your light, will see light and know the splendor of God, for you live and reign forever and ever.”

Her last wish was to be able to stay here longer, but realized, “Okay, Jesus, this is your will not mine. Lord Have Mercy. I want to see the kingdom of God. Your child wants to be worthy for you.” And that she ever was and ever will be. Diane Marie Elizabeth Jones Smith was born February 5, 1946 to the late(s) Cecelia Marie Jones and Henry Jones, Sr. She was baptized into the Catholic faith. She was a former parishioner of St. Theresa Little Flower Church and most recently St. Joseph Catholic Church of Marietta, Ga. She graduated from McDonough 35 High School and Southern University of New Orleans. Diane was also a former member and Queen of the Original Exclusive Twenties Social Club and Zeta Phi Beta sorority. She was an Orleans Parish and Jefferson Parish School Board Certified Special Education Teacher who loved the work she did and all the children she has had the pleasure to teach and mentor. Such schools include, Kohn Jr. High School, Florence J. Chester Elementary and Helen Cox High School. Diane also worked for New Orleans General Hospital and Gretna Community Arts as an adult and youth counselor. In her early years, she worked in the Neo-Natal Care division of Charity Hospital and in their family bar, Morris Lounge, in Hollygrove, as a bartender. She has touched the lives of many. She has given herself to love, dedication and devotion. She worked hard all of her life. She has made a difference. She must know this, that she has done a great job. That there is no reason to question. We will remember her smile, her vulnerability, her energy, and especially her strength to keep going. Now it is time for her to let go and let God. Her job on earth is done. It is time for her to fly away and go live with Him in Heaven.
For it is with great sadness that on March 6, 2017, Diane Marie Elizabeth Jones Smith passed away at the tender age of 71. Yes, she was too young. Too full of life. But it is our Father’s will. For forever she was and will be, inside and out…’til her dying breath, a finer drink of wine. A looker. A fashionista. A classy piece of artwork. A song to be played. A dance to be danced.
Have you ever watched her dance? Ever see the way her face lights up when she does? She danced her way into the hearts of many; Especially her 5 children, of whom she leaves behind: Mia Kristin Smith, Stanley Edward Smith, Jr., Tori Melissa Smith-Harris, Keisha Erin Salaam, and Bruce Edward Larkins, Jr.; her sons and daughter-in-laws, Dion Walker-Smith, Robert Harris, Jr., Tutashinda Salaam, and Aleasha Larkins; her sisters, Ursula Fauria and Maureen Thomas; 23 grandchildren, 2 great-grand children, her brother and sister-in-laws, nieces and nephews, her cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, colleagues, and her dog November.

And may we not forget those who preceded her in death, whom also loved her; her mother and her father; her husband, Stanley Edward Smith, Sr.; her aunts, Theodora Josie Morris, Henrietta Morris Mercier and Sean D. Morris; her brothers, Richard Jones and Henry Jones, her brother-in-law, Charles Fauria; grandmothers and grandfathers, in-laws, extended family, and friends.

So, may the trumpets start to play. Let the jazz music commence. Let us all hear with resounding ears. She is gone home. Lay the white carpets. Clear the walkway. She is coming down the aisle. For his eyes, and all the angels in Heaven, she walks his golden runway. She turns, she flares her arms out to be accepted. She bows. She is taken into his arms with welcome. She is home. In pain no more. In sorrow no more. With her dancing shoes on, Diane has gone home to our Lord.

She will be deeply missed and forever remembered and cherished by all.

“For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”


Funeral will be held at:

St. Rita Church
2729 Lowerline St. New Orleans, La. 70125

Repast to follow:

Adams St. Cultural Development Center
7625 Hickory St. New Orleans, La. 70118