Paula Stamps Smith

Paula Oleta Stamps Smith, 90, of Albany, Georgia passed away on September 23,2023 surrounded by family. 

Paula Smith’s funeral service will be held on Thursday, September 28, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Sherwood Baptist Church Chapel followed by a graveside service at Crown Hill Cemetery. Rev. John Spencer will officiate. The family will receive friends Wednesday, September 27, 2023 between 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. at  Mathews Funeral Home.

Paula was born on January 20, 1933, in Leesburg (Redbone District), Georgia to the late Paul and Evie Johnson Stamps.

She graduated from high school in Lee County where she was a standout on the Lee County High School girls’ basketball team and lettered four years in a row. She was also a charter member of the Lee County Beta Club.

Paula accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age while attending her church youth camp sponsored by Leesburg Baptist Church where she was baptized. She remained an active member of the church until she married James William “Billy” Smith on August 20,1950 and moved to Albany, Georgia.

In the early 1950s, Paula and her late husband were charter members of Calvary Baptist Church, helping with all aspects of creating this new place of worship. The Smiths were active participants in the church’s structuring and outreach and found it a blessing to be involved. Sunday mornings found Paula teaching Sunday School at Calvary Baptist.

The family moved their letter to Sherwood Baptist Church in 1977. Paula was among the first to donate funds to establish the church’s Media Ministry that grew quickly under the new pastor, William “Billy” Smith (no relation). As her health began failing, Paula was unable to attend services at Sherwood Baptist but remained connected to her church through televised presentations and friendly visitations.

Paula loved working in retail businesses where engaging customers was a favorite part of her working day. Many often commented that this lovely lady never met a stranger. She owned several children’s clothing stores, including Nonnies Young World and Hello Kitty.  

Her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren (her grands lovingly called her “Nonnie”) were her greatest joys and spoiling them was a valuable part of her family life. Her focus on family included involvement with her children’s activities throughout their school years. Paula began decades of volunteer work in the Albany community when her children entered school. She was often a class mother and led parents as PTA president. She was honored with a Lifetime Membership in the Georgia State PTA Organization for her dedicated work in Dougherty County.

Highlights of every year were Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners when the whole family gathered around the table. Those Southern home cooked feasts were like a family reunion!

The Smiths loved to travel, taking many road trips throughout the United States and Canada. To share their adventures, Paula often penned articles for Louise Whitting, social editor of the Albany Herald.

Being a genuine Georgian, Paula was an avid fan of the Georgia Bulldogs and the Atlanta Braves.

This busy lady was a past president of her Civitan Auxiliary. She continued her work as an adult volunteer for the Westover High School Civinettes sponsored by the Dougherty Civitan Club. The Smiths were honored by being named International Civitan Family of the Year by Civitan International.

She was a volunteer Nurses’ Aide at Northside Elementary School several days a week in the 1960s. She enjoyed volunteering at area nursing homes where she was noted as the “best bingo caller in town.”  Of all her many volunteer roles, Paula claimed her most fulfilling role sprang from her involvement with Happy House where she worked with special needs children of all ages.

Paula was proceeded in death by both her parents; her husband; her daughter Terri Ann Smith Sims; her great grandson James William Hammond; her brother Ed Stamps (Jonnie) and her sister Irma Stamps Kielsmeier (Ralph).

Survivors include her only living child, Billy Paul Smith (Drenda) of Lake Lanier, Gainesville, GA; four grandchildren, Stephen Sims, Sylvester, GA, Stacy Sims Hammond, Albany, GA,  Bryan P. Smith (Mindy) Charleston SC, K. Blake Smith (Candice) Charleston SC; seven great grandchildren, Josh Hammond, Daniel Hammond, Brett Sims, Mason Sims, Larson Lanae Smith, William C. Smith and Katherine Smith; two brothers, John R. Stamps Thomasville, GA, Cecil Dewey Stamps (Marie) Albany, GA, a sister-in-law, Jonnie B. Stamps, Parrott, GA.

Survivors also include numerous nieces, nephews and family dogs and cats. She loved all her family and friends and would not have wanted to leave anyone without mention.

In the last months of her life, Paula resided at The Oaks-Limestone in Lake Lanier and the hospice there where she was lovingly and carefully attended to by all staff. The family is so appreciative of this care and thanks all who made Paula’s life comfortable in her last days.