MANSFIELD — A memorial fund has been established to support the children of community advocate Geneva “Kay” Smith.
Smith, 40, passed away Dec. 8 due to complications following open-heart surgery. According to her obituary, she is survived by two sons and two daughters.
Smith was a lifelong Mansfield resident and 1998 graduate of Mansfield Senior High School. She received her associate’s degree from North Central State College, and a bachelor’s degree from Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Social Work.
Smith was passionate about community organizing, youth development and anti-violence. She worked at the North End Community Improvement Collaborative, where she led numerous initiatives including The North End Elder program, Neighbor Up Night, Mansfield Community Against Violence, My Brothers Keeper and Open Tables.
Beth Reitler, one of Smith’s co-workers at the NECIC, said the community’s response to Smith’s death was “overwhelming in a wonderful way.” People called, posted on NECIC’s Facebook page and even stopped by the office to share memories of Smith and her dedication to serving others.
Many asked how they could support Kay’s family during this time, which led to the establishment of the fund.
“The general idea is to support Kay’s kids by providing funds for those extracurriculars that can add up in cost,” said Reitler, the NECIC’s director of operations.
“This is what we feel was most important to Kay,” she added. “Her relationship with her kids was the most important relationship in her life. She wanted them to be able to do all kinds of different things and explore the world and find out who they want to become.”
The enrichment fund, titled the Geneva “Kay” Smith Memorial Children’s Fund, was set up through Richland Bank. Donations can be made at any branch of Richland Bank or the Park National Bank network.
