Jennie "Ginger" Virginia Rainey Smith was called to Heaven on August 25, 2022.  She was at her home with her beloved of 64 years by her side.    The family will hold a public celebration of life for family and friends on Saturday, September 3, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. at Countryside Christian Church in Shreveport with Pastor Ted Hardan presiding.

She will be remembered and cherished by her husband, William "Bil" Smith, son Steven Smith and wife Debbie of Mooringsport, son Donald Smith of Shreveport, and daughter Tracy Jewell and husband Chris of Shreveport.  Also left to cherish her memory are her grandchildren Rion and Melissa Smith, Jessica Xavier Marcelo and Renato Xavier Marcelo, Conner Jewell, David Lane, Kevin and Amber James, Natalie Moreira, as well as numerous great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.  Ginger was loved by her surviving siblings, sister Peggy Dubois and her husband Eddie, and brother Michael Rainey.  She was preceded to glory by her parents Anice Sqyres Rainey and Robert Rainey and her sister Bobbie Salsbury and her husband Herbert.

Ginger was the matriarch of her family and will leave a void in the heart of everyone who knew her.  Her legacy is the love she had for Jesus and her family.  A great cook, her red beans and rice, angel biscuits, chicken and dumplings, and buttermilk pancakes are legend.  Her whole life was devoted to her family, but especially her husband Bil.  They shared a love of gardening passed down from both of their fathers, and spending time in simple pleasures like drinking coffee on the porch and watching a storm come in.  Her children and grandchildren hold her as an ideal of womanhood, what every wife and mother should strive to be.  Self-sacrificing, hardworking, humble.  A beautiful spirit gone to make a place for those she loves in Heaven.  She wanted her family and those she loved to know and love Jesus and follow his teachings so that one day we will all be together again in Glory.

The family would like to thank WK hospice and all the doctors and nurses involved with Ginger's care in her final days, but especially to her nurses as WK North - Tabatha, Beverly, and Kash.  You ladies were a blessing to her and to us more than you will ever know.

Proverbs 31:30-31:  "Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.  Give her of the fruit of her hands and let her own works praise her in the gates."

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to your favorite cancer charity or nature reserve.