I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8
Willa Renee Mothershed-Smith was born, August 16, 1965, to Rev. Spaesio Willard Mothershed Sr. and Juliene Mothershed. She transitioned on to glory the morning of Friday, February 24, 2023, in her Houston, Texas family home.
Renee, as she was lovely called, was a native Houstonian and the loving wife of Darryl Smith; the adorned mother of two sons Darryl Julian Smith, Kameron Neatale Smith, and the beloved grandmother of Victoria Renee Smith.
She graduated from Houston ISD’s Bellarie High School, Class of 1983, and went on to attend Texas Southern University, Prairie View A & M University, and ultimately found her unique place at historical, Wiley College in Marshall, Texas. It was at Wiley College that Renee was initiated into Phi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, In the Spring of 1987. She would graduate from the historical HBCU in 1988, returned to Houston, and began her quest of family, career, and service. She retired after a 27-year tenure with M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. She was loved by all who were fortunate to know her.
Renee was a Silver Star who was an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Psi Mu Omega Chapter, Pearland, TX.
She deeply loved life, her family, friendships, and sisterhood, she is also remembered and treasured as her father was for her calm mind and spirit, idealistic heart and her skill of event planning and lofty visions. She loved to travel and always looked forward to an adventure.
Renee” is preceded in death by her father Rev. Spaesio Willard Mothershed Sr., mother Juliene Mothershed, grandparents, Howard and Dorothy Mae Craven and Charlie and Ollie Mothershed, and her mother’s twin sister Pauline Craven Boddie
She leaves to cherish her memories; her husband of 30 years, Darryl, her sons DJ, Kameron and Armani, her precious granddaughter Victoria, her mother-in-law Gloria Leonard, her only surviving sibling Spaesio W. Mothershed Jr., her sister-n-laws Traci Thomlinson and Carla Smith Newkirk, her brother-in-law’s Craig Smith Eric Madry, her Uncle Howard Craven, all of Houston, Texas, her nephew Spaesio Mothershed III, and his loving mother Ceretha and her 95-year-old Great Aunt Genevieve Kemp of Los Angeles, California. Renee also leaves to cherish her memory her Best Friends, Carol Broadway and Desiree Barnes Williams, Her Line Sisters: The Exquisite Eight: Sophia Brown-Canady, Nena Taylor, Malinda McKee, Martha Donley-Brown, Deborah Jennings-Jones, Shelann Jones, Patricia Burse, the Soror’s of Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Phi and Psi Mu Omega Chapters, her college roommate Glenda Hitchens and a host of cousins, classmates, and all family and friends in South Florida. Renee will be sorely missed; however, her memory will forever live on in those who loved her.
In Lieu of flowers, the family ask that you donate to Wiley College in memoriam of Willa Renee Mothershed-Smith. You may donate by Check, Digitally or by Cash App. Checks may be mailed to Wiley College, Office of Institutional Advancement 711 Wiley Ave., Marshall, Texas 75670, Digitally via https://www.wileyc.edu/donate in memoriam to Willa Renee Mothershed-Smith or Cash App: $Wileycashier.