A memorial service for Charlotte Mary Culver Smith, of Bossier City, Louisiana, formerly of Brookhaven, will be Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, at 2 p.m. at Riverwood Family Funeral Service in Brookhaven. Pastor Eric Harriman of First Baptist Church of Columbia, Louisiana, will officiate.

Visitation will be Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, at noon at the funeral home.

Mrs. Smith, 72, died Friday, July 28, 2017, at Grace Home in Shreveport, Louisiana, after an ongoing battle with cancer. She was born on Dec. 10, 1944, in New Orleans to the late Orville Ollie Culver and the late Hydee Marie Grenn Culver. A native of Brookhaven, she’d lived in Bossier City, for the past 10 years. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Shreveport. She grew up in Bogue Chitto, around numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. After graduating from Brookhaven High School, she married her sweetheart Reggie on Feb. 29, 1964. She attended University of Southern Mississippi and graduated from Northeast Louisiana University in 1974. She later achieved a Masters Plus 30 with elementary counseling certification. She taught elementary school for 28 years in Monroe, Marksville and Columbia, influencing many students and teachers in training. Charlotte and Reggie spent their working years in these small towns, raising their sons Eric and Les, and developing many lifelong friendships.

She was the best wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother any one could ask for, and touched the lives of many over the years with her kindness, compassion, generosity, thoughtfulness and love. She valued her family, enjoying many travels around the world with her sister, the late Sharon Wells, along with memorable trips with cousins, children and grandchildren. Charlotte instilled in the family the importance of keeping traditions and enjoying the holidays and family celebrations, because she felt this was the essence of enjoying life. She was the heart of our family.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Reggie Kent Smith.

Survivors are her sons, Eric (Mary Beth) Smith and Les (Paula) Smith; grandchildren, Allison (Malcolm) Holden and Andrew Smith; and great-granddaughter, Isabella Holden.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Dr. Richard Haynie, Dr. Richard Kamm, Dr. Scott Boniol, and the late Dr. Chad Hargon, along with the nurses and staff at Highland Hospital and Grace Home in Shreveport, Louisiana. The family would also like to acknowledge a special friend, Mike Smith, for his love and companionship in recent years.