Etta Maria (Darden) Smith

“Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the
power of sin is law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:55-57

Etta Maria Darden Smith was born on May 22, 1964 to the late Charles Earnest Darden Sr.
and Katherine Bobby Jo Evans Darden in Bogalusa, Louisiana. She was the seventh of seven
children. Etta was called home to be with the Lord Jesus Christ on November 23, 2024 at Our Lady
of the Angels Hospital in Bogalusa, Louisiana at the age of 60.
Etta received her formal education at Harrison Central High School in Gulfport, Mississippi.
She went from there and became a supervisor of housekeeping at the Grand Casino in Gulfport,
Mississippi. The casino was destroyed by a hurricane. She later took an interest in children and
legally adopted a girl, age 2 and a boy, age 1. This move inspired her to get more involved with
children, so at this point she became founder and director of Lanier Ladner Housing “Community In
Action Recreation and Educational Center for the Youth” in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Etta was soon united in holy matrimony to Sammie Lee Smith and to this union another child
was adopted and she also gained a stepdaughter.
So many lives were touched through Mrs. Smith. As years went by, Mrs. Smith moved to
Bogalusa, Louisiana to tend to her mother, but became ill herself.
She became a member of the Bethlehem Baptist Church under the leadership of Elder
Christopher Matthews. Even though she was confined to a wheelchair and legally blind, she loved
the Lord and was a faithful attendant and member of the mission and youth departments. Her health
continued to fail with so many underlying conditions, but she kept the faith until the Lord saw fit to
call her home on November 23, 2024.
She leaves to cherish her memories a husband, Sammie Lee Smith of Silver Creek,
Mississippi; two daughters, Yolanda Darden and Marshel Smith; a son, Marcus Darden; a
stepdaughter, Sharonda N. Smith Towner all of Gulfport, Mississippi; three sisters, Sherry Lander of
Dayton, Ohio, Carol D. Smith and Tonia D. Collins of Bogalusa, Louisiana; three brothers, Raven C.
Evans, Joseph Magee, and Charles E. Darden, Jr. of Bogalusa, Louisiana; eleven grandchildren,
Jimyah Darden, Jimaylah Darden, Kenyetta Darden, Prince-Aamir Darden, Shyah Darden, Kayliah
Darden, King-Niqoe Darden, Jaxson Darden, Maddox Darden, Skylar Darden, Rayburn Smith all of
Gulfport Mississippi; two aunts, Sylvia (Richard) Powell of Albion, Michigan and Natalie Killings of
Carson, California. A host of cousins, nephews, nieces, and other relatives and friends. She was
preceded in death by a still-born son, Robert Charles Darden; parents, Charles E. and Katherine E.
Darden, Sr. and a brother Ralph E. Darden.

Viewing of the remains will be from 9-10am followed by the services at 10am on December 7, 2024
at Bethlehem Baptist Church. Internment at Bogalusa Cemetery. Affordable Funeral Home in LAcombe, LA

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