Sandra Smitherman

Services for Sandra ( Sandi ) Hope Smitherman, 65, of Lubbock, TX, will be held at 2:00 pm Monday, May 19, 2014, in the Wayne Avenue Baptist Church, Lubbock, TX. Viewing will be held Monday from 12:00 pm until service time at the church. Burial will follow in the Abernathy Cemetery under the direction of Abell Funeral Home & Flower Shop of Abernathy, TX. Mrs. Smitherman died Thursday, May 15, 2014, at her home in Lubbock, TX. She was born September 22, 1948 in Portsmouth, VA to James Ralph and Frankie Louise (Hutsenpiller) Dempsey. She married Jim Harding Smitherman on November 21, 1969 in Virginia Beach, VA. She was a member of the Wayne Ave. Baptist Church for over 30 years, sang gospel songs in the hospitals and nursing homes. She served as a volunteer chaplain at University Medical Center for over 19 years, was a true prayer warrior and had an astounding faith. She was preceded in death by her Father, James Ralph Dempsey and a son, James McFarland. She is survived by her husband, Jim Smitherman of Lubbock, TX, a daughter, Tara Hope Espy of Chesapeake, VA, a son, Troy Smitherman of Lubbock, TX, her Mother, Frankie Louise Dempsey, 5 grandchildren and a sister, Colleen Grace Hill of Virginia Beach, VA. The family suggests memorials be made to the Chaplain Association at University Medical Center.