Obituary of Claire Smith

Claire Smith was born on November 7, 1938 in Cleveland, Ohio to the late Sinnie and Q.T. Marsh. She attended schools in the Cleveland Public School District and graduated from East Technical High School in 1958. Shortly after graduating, she married her childhood sweetheart and they were the parents of four children. While raising a family, she attended Cuyahoga Community College where she took several courses in medical terminology. She worked for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Ohio for 15 years. Claire remained in the medical insurance business when she relocated to the Washington Metropolitan area 25 years ago. Although she officially retired in 2003, Claire worked part-time at the Potomac Club in Lansdowne, Virginia and became a familiar and well-loved individual by the members and neighbors in the community. Claire was raised in a Christian home and accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age. She moved to Maryland in 1988 and joined First A.M.E. Church of Gaithersburg where she proudly served on the Usher Board for 20 years. She moved to Northern Virginia and became a member of Capital Community Church. She is survived by her four children, Mr. Tedrick Vernon, Jr., Mr. Michael Vernon, Mr. Tyrone Vernon, and Dr. Traci Townsend; one son-in-law, Mr. DuWayne Townsend; one daughter-in-law, Mrs. Annette Vernon; one sister, Mrs. Gwen Banks; four brothers, Mr. Roger Marsh, Mr. Richard Marsh, Mr. Kenneth Marsh, and Mr. Keith Marsh; two sister-in-laws, Mrs. Vicki Marsh and Mrs. Gail Marsh; her daughter in Christ, Bishop Thelma Colwell-White; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.