Obituary
Theresa L. Smith

Theresa Lynn Spalding Smith, 65, of Sanford, passed away on October 1, 2023 at Duke Hospital. Theresa was born in Decatur, Illinois on December 11, 1957 to Bonnie Jean and Walter Lemar Spalding. She was the oldest of their four children. Theresa was raised in Decatur, Illinois. After graduating from Douglas MacArthur High in Decatur in 1976, she attended Olivet Nazarene University in Kankakee, Illinois and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology in 1980. Theresa met her husband, Ken in 1983. They were married in St. Petersburg, Florida on May 10, 1986. They had two children, a son, Aaron and a daughter, Ariane. Theresa worked in the counseling field for many years and obtained a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Nova University (Florida) in 1990. Following the birth of Aaron in 1990, Theresa became a homemaker and home school parent for her children for the next 23 years. The family lived in St. Petersburg until 2001, when they moved to Sanford. Theresa volunteered for the Christians United Outreach and Highway to Healing in Sanford. She re-entered the workforce before retiring in 2018. Theresa possessed a servant’s heart for others. She always looked for opportunities to get to know and to serve others. Her kind spirit was fueled by her strong Christian faith, as her love of God was the most important characteristic of her life. Theresa is survived by her husband, Ken of Sanford; her children, Aaron (Shpresa) and Ariane; a granddaughter, Liana Smith; her three siblings, Walter of Columbus, Mississippi, Roger (Cheryl) of Springfield, Missouri and Karen (Eric) of Decatur, Illinois; a niece, Heather Burkett of Decatur, Illinois; two nephews, Matthew Spalding of Springfield, Missouri and Alex (Agnes) of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania and two uncles, Kenny McKinney of Springfield, Missouri and Harold (Sandy) of Lexington, North Carolina. She was predeceased by her father, Walter Spalding, her mother, Bonnie Jordan and her step-father, James Jordan. A celebration of life service for Theresa will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 13th at Hunt Springs Baptist Church, 1557 Saint Andrews Church Rd. in Sanford, with the Rev. Dr. Wesley Thomas presiding. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries by visiting: give.ncm.org/donate/227 .