Margaretta Yvonne Smith, 95, of McLean, VA passed away Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, VA after a brief stay in hospice care. Her unyielding commitment to faith and family were the cornerstones of her life.

Born January 13,1929 in Greensboro, NC, she was the daughter of the late Robert Smith and Addie Cooper. Yvonne was affectionately known as Evie to her close family members. She was a beautiful soul with a kind loving nature, peaceful disposition, and unconditional love. In her presence she had an uncanny ability to put everyone at ease around her. Evie's love, joy, peace, mercy, and grace exemplified Heaven on Earth.

She grew up in Greensboro, NC in a loving multi-generational household that included her grandmother, sister, aunts, and cousins. Yvonne was surrounded by love and a house full of cousins whom she adored as though they were her siblings. Yvonne cherished her beautiful relationship with her sister, the late Gwendolyn Smith, and her dear cousins, the late Dolorise Bray and Eleanor Hill. They grew up as the Cooper Girls and took great joy in their love for one another. As grownups they talked every day, joyfully reminiscing about the "good ole days". Yvonne lived with joy, happiness, and grace in her heart and lived every moment to its fullest.

She received her early education in the Greensboro Public Schools. After graduating from Dudley Senior High School in 1947, she began her career as a photography lab technician at Manning Photography Studio. As she began to perfect her ability to capture moments vividly, she took her talents to Oklahoma and then returned to work at Keen's Studio in Greensboro, NC from 1957 to 1989 when she retired. Yvonne brought photography to life as she was integral in Keen's Studios Award winning photography. Her early retirement years were spent caring for her grandkids, Kristen and Nikolas, until school age. Her favorite pastimes were watching Westerns and listening to country music, specifically Reba McEntire hits.

Her devotion, commitment, and love of God was ever-present in her life as she faithfully attended and served at Providence Baptist Church. She was baptized in 1941 and served her church for decades in a myriad of ways. Her dedication to service and Love of God was evident in her church work as she faithfully served in Sunday School and the Sanctuary Choir. Yvonne's life was a tribute to her Love of God. She constantly sang a song praising God. Yvonne was a true servant of God and was always thankful and grateful no matter the situation. Yvonne touched the lives of many young people when she opened her heart to become a foster parent. As a mother, foster mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother her devotion, affection, and wise council was unceasing.

Yvonne moved to Northern Virginia with her immediate family in 1997 in which she carried out the remainder of her life.

Yvonne had God's heart of hope, faith, unfailing love, compassion, sacrifice, and redemption. She was a light to everyone around her, especially her grandchildren, Kristen, Nikolas, Kimberly and Sophie, in which she taught and exuded unconditional love. They had a phenomenal and exceptionally close relationship. She was always present for any ceremony, sports or school activity and especially loved watching March Madness and the UNC Tar Heels with the family. She was an avid fan of men and women's Tar Heel Basketball and never missed a televised game.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister Gwendolyn Smith.

Yvonne is survived by her daughter: Sherri P. Brown, McLean, VA; granddaughters: Kristen Brown, Washington, DC and Kimberly Cuyun, Phoenix, AZ; grandson: Nikolas Brown, Phoenix, AZ; great- granddaughter, Sophie Cuyun, Phoenix, AZ; and special cousin, Ronald Cooper, Greensboro, NC.

A funeral service to honor her life will be held on Friday, May 10, 2024 at Perry J. Brown Funeral Home 909 E. Market Street Greensboro, NC 27401, in the Cassie Coote-Brown Memorial Chapel. Visitation 1:30pm, Service 2pm.

Burial will follow in Maplewood Cemetery 235 Bingham Street Greensboro, NC 27401.