Vanessa Anne Smith, 40, passed on March 28, 2020. She was born to Randy Thomas Gates and Margaret Ana-Marye Gates (Turner) in Savannah, Georgia on October 15, 1979.

Vanessa married Derek Smith on February 26th, of 2011. Together they raised 9 children Molly, Maddy, Kouvr, Hannah, Alexandria, Cameron, Adisyn, Kaleb, and Paysleigh.

Vanessa loved family game nights, sitting outside, and going to the lake. She enjoyed camping, sitting by the fire with her friends and family laughing and telling stories.

Most of all she loved and adored her children, they were her world. If you were lucky enough to be present when she gazed into her children’s faces, the pure joy radiating from her would blind you. Vanessa wanted nothing more than for them to have a wonderful life.

Her life was a living example of her favorite Bible verse, Ephesians 4:32 — “And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, Just as God also forgave you in Christ.\"

She is preceded in death by her brother, Matthew Jacob, and her grandparents, Leonardo Garlynd, Ruth Marie, and Martha Leann. She is survived by all her children. She is also survived by 3 grandchildren.