LAKE CHARLES, LA.—Brenda Louise Hamlett Smith, 69, of Lake Charles, La., formerly of Reedville, died at 10:22 a.m. on Wednesday, December 26, 2018, in a local hospital.
Mrs. Smith was born April 30, 1949, in Farmville and was in the first graduating class of Central High School in Lunenburg County in 1967. She then went to the Richmond School of Practical Nursing, where she graduated in 1970.
Mrs. Smith retired as a nurse from Rappahannock General Hospital. She was a member of several churches in Virginia throughout the years, including Victoria Baptist Church and Bethany United Methodist Church. She moved to Lake Charles in 2009 to be closer to her family and became a member of St. Luke Simpson United Methodist Church.
During her younger years, she enjoyed hiking, and had a love of reading. She had a great love for her grandchildren and her beloved home state, Virginia. She always had a great sense of humor and will be missed dearly.
Mrs. Smith is survived by her husband of 48 years, Dan Smith of Lake Charles; daughters, Amy Pickett and husband, Billy, of Lake Charles and Ginny Ashton and husband, Chris, of Houston, Texas; brothers, Jeffery Lee Hamlett and wife, Elizabeth, of Short Pump and Robert Stephen Hamlett and wife, Wanda, of Meherrin; sister-in-law, Anne Hamlett of Victoria; grandchildren, Tinslie Pickett, Hunter Pickett, Jack Pickett, Luke Pickett and Ellie Ashton; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Courtney and Katherine Louise Hamlett; and brother, James Ryland Hamlett Sr.
Her memorial service was held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 2, at Bethany United Methodist Church, Reedville. Cremation was entrusted to Johnson Funeral Home in Lake Charles.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Brenda’s memory to: Shenandoah National Park Trust, 404 Eighth Street NE, Suite D, Charlottesville, VA 22902.
Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneralhome.net.
