ROGERS — Lavinia Smith Wilkerson

(Mom or Mamaw, as we called her) of Covington, Tenn., passed away in Rogers on December 30, 2023. She was born in Covington, Tenn., on February 2, 1922 to the late Zack and Senie Smith.

Lavinia will be remembered as a child of God and a loving Christian woman who cherished her family. She was a devoted wife and a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt.

Lavinia always had a positive outlook on life and always gave everyone grace. She loved to laugh and enjoyed new experiences. She was a calm force during storms. She shared wisdom when asked and showed generosity, patience, and kindness.

She played on the 1939 Tennessee High School State Championship softball team. During WWII, she served as a “Rosie the Riveter” in a plant in Memphis that made airplanes. She grew up in a suburb of Covington, Tenn., called Hyde Park where the cotton mill was and where she and her family worked for years. At the age of 100, she wrote a book on the history of the area and the mill. She loved traveling and exploring new places and things. Lavinia traveled to Alaska, Canada, Hawaii, and most of the 50 states in the US.

She grew up in the Methodist faith and helped plant and start Hyde Park Methodist Church in Covington, Tenn. Since moving to Rogers, she was a faithful attendee of Fellowship Bible Church of NWA. She loved her Lord Jesus Christ, and now is in His presence.

Lavinia’s loving husband, Howard; and son, Tony; granddaughter, Amanda; brother, Harry Smith; and sister, Louise Shelley preceded her in death. Lavinia’s survivors include her son; Norman (Robin) Wilkerson of Rogers, Ark.; and Lynn, wife of Tony Wilkerson, of North Augusta, S.C.; and Lavinia’s grandchildren; Mandy (Matt) Kirkpatrick of Kennesaw, Ga., Josh (Audrey) Wilkerson of North Augusta, S.C., Caleb (Chrissy) Wilkerson of Evans, Ga., Erin Wilkerson of Brunswick, Ga., Amber (Greg) Reifschneider of Franklin, Tenn., Drew (Heather) Wilkerson of San Francisco, Calif., Kara (Doug) Johnson of Bentonville, Ark., Derrick (MacKenzie) Wilkerson of Rogers, Ark.; and 17 great-grandchildren.

The Wilkerson family would like to thank, Circle of Life Hospice, Morada Senior Living, and Innisfree Nursing Home for the many years of loving and serving Lavinia.

A graveside service will be held in Covington, Tenn., Sunday, January 14, 2024, at 10 a.m. in the Covington Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

All services and arrangements are under the direction of Maley Yarbrough Funeral Home. Covington, Tenn. 901476-9778.