Vermelle Pasley Smith

Vermelle P. Smith was born March 19, 1948, in Charleston, SC. She was the daughter of the late Jacob Stewart and Neomia Pasley. She departed this earthly life and entered into eternal rest on April 26, 2024 in Jacksonville, FL.

Vermelle graduated from Bonds Wilson High School in 1966. After high school, she pursued a career as one of the first black telephone operators hired for Bell South Telephone Company in Charleston. Vermelle later enlisted into the United States Air Force, where her recruiter encouraged her to be among the first set of women to be a member of the Air Force Security Police Force. Her passion for the Air Force led her into a career in recruitment for 16 years and as a flight superintendent until her retirement from the Air Force in 1993. She obtained a Bachelor’s in Human Resources from Park University and held an Insurance Securities license.

On March 3, 1990, she married her loving husband of 34 years, Aubrey Smith, Jr. Their union was filled with trips, laughs and love. After retirement, Vermelle decided to explore other passions and opened up her own art gallery in Dayton, OH. Keeping in touch with other veterans, she joined the American Legion Post 776 as the 1st Vice.

Her family’s move to Virginia allowed her to become a Personnel and Human Service Investigator. Helping others obtain employment, Vermelle was hired as a Human Resources Manager for Ukrop’s and Lowes. Upon her move to Jacksonville, Vermelle was hired as an Insurance Compliance Auditor for PRIMERICA, in addition she worked for CITI Group as Vice President for card services security compliance. She continued her service as a member of the American Legion Post 197, where she was elected the 1st Vice Finance Officer. Vermelle’s love of traveling, going to museums, movies and plays, history, and indulging in a good book, led her to owning her own Cruise One Travel Agency franchise. She was a member of the Red Hat Society that focuses on the power of fun. She knew how to have fun, especially with her favorite pastime of singing her favorite karaoke songs of “Crazy” by Patsy Cline and the duet with her loving husband, “Hope that We Can Be Together Soon” by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. Throughout the years, “Til the Morning Come” by Tucka was one of her favorite songs. When Vermelle would visit family in Georgia, she would always talk about her favorite movie, “Gone with the Wind,” and how she would watch it over and over. Most importantly, Vermelle enjoyed spending time with her family and friends and reminiscing over funny stories.

She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Tracie Wilson, Abraham Ward, Howard Stewart and Lewis Ward, Jr.

Vermelle is survived by her loving husband of 34 years, Aubrey B. Smith, Jr.; children, Tammy L. Davis, Melissa L. Carpenter and Justin Smith; grandchildren, Naomi L. Carpenter, Ryan T. Smith and Bryce N. Smith; great-grandchild, Aliyah L. M. Jean; stepmother, Lucille Stewart; siblings, Damon Stewart, Devin Stewart, Mary Stewart –James, Alexander Stewart, Charlotte Delesline and Maybell Kermit-Lomax, and a host of friends and family.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 p.m. at Aaron and Burney Bivens Funeral Home, 529 Kingsley Avenue, Orange Park, FL 32073. A celebration of life service will be held on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at Mt. Ararat Baptist Church, 2503 Myrtle Avenue N., Jacksonville, FL 32209.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made in Vermelle’s memory to the American Heart Association.

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