Ms. Danielle LaTrey Smith

Danielle L. Smith came into this world on May 5, 1984 in Fayetteville, North Carolina to Michele Smith and the late Avery Smith with a rhythm already in her soul, a light already in her eyes, and a love for life that could not be contained. Danielle was not just a daughter, sister, a mother – she was a force. A woman who walked into a room and made it warmer, who laughed from the depths of her spirit, who gave everyone she met a name that only she could call them. Because when Danielle loved you, she loved you loudly. She had a heart to big for this world, a kindness that sometimes went unguarded, a generosity that poured from her hands even when they were empty. She knew how to find joy in the middle of a storm and how to dance when life tried to sit her down. Her confidence was electric, her spirit magnetic – people just wanted to be near her, to soak up her warmth, to laugh at her jokes, to move with her rhythm. And Did She Have Rhythm! She could teach you how to dance, how to be bold and how to be unafraid. Danielle loved, loved, loved music – lyrics were the soundtracks of her life. When one of her songs came on, she knew every word, every little trill or lilt from the artist or the instrument. Movies were more than entertainment. They were poetry and she knew the lines by heart, just as she knew how to make everyone feel like they were the main character in their own story. Of all of the titles Danielle held, none was more precious than Mother. She was mama to Dorian and Gabriel and there was no greater love than what she poured into her boys. She brought them into this world with the sheer strength of her being and taught them what it meant to be loved without condition. She was the protective sister, the life of the party, the friend who never met a stranger. ‘Stranger Danger’ was a concept she never grasp. Danielle was a bright light even in the dimmest of places. On Thursday, January 30, 2025, at the age of 40, Danielle’s earthly journey ended but her memory dances on. It lives on in every song that plays, in every laugh that echoes, in every heart that beats a little stronger because the people knew her. Danielle leaves to cherish her memories: her sons, Dorian and Gabriel Smith; her grandson, Zaire Kratzat-Smith; her sister, Yeanna Smith; her brothers, Avery(Jay) Smith, Jr; LaShawn Currie(Coronda) & Antawn Currie(Angel); her mother, Michele Smith; her nephews Jacari Smith and Amari Currie; nieces, Saniya & Aviana Currie; her aunts and uncles; Darlene & William Smith; Trenda & Michael Boston; Tara Stewart; Angela Thomas; Darlene Brown; Aaron Smith; and Edward Smith; and a host of cousins, other relatives & friends.

Ms. Danielle LaTrey Smith

May 5, 1984 - January 30, 2025