Lilah Perdue Smedley

Lilah Perdue Smedley November 5, 1924 - September 27, 2015 Lilah Perdue Smedley passed away Sunday, September 27, 2015, in Waco, Texas. Services will be at 1:15 p.m., Tuesday, October 6, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church with the Right Rev. Rayford High and Rev. Dr. Chuck Treadwell officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. A reception in the Great Hall will precede the service beginning at 12:30 p.m. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Monday, October 5, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Garden Room. Lilah was born on the family farm November 5, 1924 in Reagan, Texas, to the late Raymond Leo Perdue and Maude Carter Perdue, both of whose parents were early Central Texas settlers. She grew up attending schools in Marlin and graduated from Mart High School in May, 1942. Lilah attended her mother's alma mater, Mary Hardin Baylor. She married Howard Water Smedley, Sr., September 29, 1946, and they lived in Baltimore, MD. In the summer of 1965, Lilah relocated her family from Baltimore to Waco. She began working at St. Paul's Episcopal Day School in 1966; then she transferred to St. Paul's Episcopal Church until her retirement in January of 1993. Anyone who met her commented that she was the epitome of a Southern Belle. She was preceded by her parents; Howard W. Smedley, Sr.; and her sister, Anne Perdue Herrscher. She is survived by her daughters, Anne Smedley Rue and husband, Nelson, and Jane Smedley Hart and husband, Gary, all of Waco; sons, Howard W. Smedley, Jr. and wife, Cary, of Baltimore, MD, Thomas W. Smedley of Dallas and David C. Smedley and wife, Missy, of San Antonio; seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren; sisters, Mrs. Bobbye Bell and husband, Jack, and Mrs. Ilda Williams and husband, James; and brother-in-law, Rick Herrscher. Pallbearers are David Mauer, Kyle Smedley, John Smedley, Chris Rue, Denny Pattillo, Curtis Cleveland, K. Paul Holt and Richard Karr. Honorary pallbearers are Rollin Khoury, Jack Burgess and Mercer Buchanan. Memorials may be made to St. Paul's Episcopal Church or St. Paul's Episcopal Day School, 601 Columbus Avenue, Waco TX 76701. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WHBfamily.com.