Obituary of Nancy Ann Powersmith

Nancy Ann Powersmith was freed to be with the God of her sensibilities on August 16, 2019. She was born in Illinois, but soon moved to Japan to spend the first 4 years of her life. She then traveled the world as an Air Force  brat. The family settled in  Biloxi MS, where she earned a full academic scholarship to Millsaps College in MS. Her life in MS was highlighted by work in the hospitality industry. But her most important and fulfilling  work was as the leader of the Gulf Coast  AIDS Task Force during the height of the AIDS crisis in the 1980-1990's.

As an avid learner, reader, and lover of books, she got her degree to teach people to read. Her house was famous for children coming  and going borrowing books and learning to read.

In 2005, Nancy lost everything in Hurricane Katrina, and relocated to High Point NC as a guest of her paternal Aunt and the American Red Cross. She became a loyal volunteer at the High Point Red Cross and was Volunteer of the year several years running. She also volunteered at the YWCA in High Point, was a Lion Club and Unitarian Universalist Church of Greensboro member.

Nancy was known for her extroverted personality, her smile, laughter, intelligence and her fanatical love for Jeopardy.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Norma Smith, her brother, Richard S. Smith, Jr., and nephew Nathaniel Shaeffer.

She leaves behind her wife, Christin J Kennedy of the home and her dog Toby. Her sisters: Nita Mullins (Eddie) of Biloxi MS,  Diane Shaeffer (Bob) of Cordova TN, and Kathy Smith (Dennis) of Biloxi MS. Nieces: Jennifer Dell Mullins, Amanda Shaeffer, and a nephew, Andy Mullins.

The family requests no flowers. In memory of Nancy, the family requests a donation of blood or a monetary donations to the American Red Cross, who provided so much to Nancy.