Karen Smith (Williams)

On June 17, 2019, Karen Williams Smith departed her earthly life at the tender age of 53. Our beloved Karen Williams Smith was born on February 21, 1966, in Brooklyn, New York, to the late Joseph and Catherine Williams. Karen was the second of four children. She was “Baby A”, the first twin. Karen was predeceased by her grandparents, Haskin and Florence Bryant and Marvin and Catherine Williams; aunts, Jeanie Alford and Gloria Brown; uncles, Donald and Haskin Bryant, Jr.; and brother-in-law, John A. Hill. After moving to Far Rockaway, Queens, Karen was educated in the New York City Public School System. In 2016, being inspired by her son, Razell, she enrolled in the Sociology/Criminal Justice program at Wilmington University. She was very proud to return to school, after many years, and was ecstatic beyond belief. She was always excited as she earned each credit. It was wonderful watching her progress. She tried to encourage Kendyll to enroll, also. She would say, “We can become private investigators”. Karen lost circulation in her leg and as it worsened, it had to be amputated, which forced her to leave college. Karen enjoyed her life, going to parties and hosting Thanksgiving dinners at her house. She loved her children and her grandchildren. She was looking forward to meeting her next grandbaby, which will be born in January, 2020. Of the many things Karen loved to do, her favorite was building our family tree. She was able to connect our family with a whole new part of our family that we didn’t know, but we came to find out that they lived in the same neighborhood, within blocks of us. We knew each other, but didn’t realize that we were relatives. Karen started looking for our cousin, Cheryl, who was put up for adoption as a baby. When Karen found her, this ignited a passion in her to reconnect more of our family. This took her to the genealogy archives in South Carolina. She would search the ancestry message board and the 1920 - 1930 census. She was able to trace our family back to slavery. Hopefully, one of her children will continue Karen’s legacy. That would be nice. In October 2011, Karen was baptized at Union Missionary Baptist Church, under the pastorage of Reverend Dr. Reddy G. Moore. Karen leaves to cherish her loving memories, six children, Kareem (Barbara), Dariniah, (son-in-law, Joseph), Razell, (daughter-in-law, Jasmine), Ramel (Shaquala), Keyan (Kiara) and her precious Tamia; nine grandchildren, Seasia, Ky’reonna, Ezekiel, Nasair, Xavier, Kareem, Xarren, Christopher and Rylee; three sisters, her twin sister Kendyll, Patricia and Denise; one brother-in-law, Hunter; one brother, Joseph; two uncles, William Bryant and Marvin Smalls; five aunts, Inez W. St. John, Melinda Douglass, Ramona, Nancy and Hope Smalls; five nephews, Steven, Elijah, Ubaturi, Aqraman and Joanath; three nieces, Candice, Imani and Zanaria; mother-in-law, Florinda Smith; and a host of cousins and friends who loved her and will miss her dearly. In addition, Karen had some special people in her life that she cherished: Yoshone Cannady, Errol Smith, Jeffery Carter, Joyce Cusae, Patty Owens, Rachel Bryant, Barbara Cook and Gail Jasper. Most of all, she had a remarkable friendship with Dr. Reddy G. Moore, who stayed with Candice and me when they walked us into that ICU unit. I truly thank him for getting us through that night. Lovingly submitted, Kendyll

Karen Smith (Williams)

February 21, 1966 - June 17, 2019