Sherri Smith, 63, of the Centennial Community in Panola County, TX, passed away on Thursday morning, Dec. 22, 2022, at her home. Sherri Lynn Penn was born on Sept. 18, 1959, in Shreveport, LA to the late Carey Wilbur and Mary Ada Winstead Penn. She graduated from Friendship Academy in Shreveport with the class of 1977. Sherri attended Centenary College where she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees. She married John Patrick Smith on June 23, 1984, in Shreveport. Sherri enjoyed a 38-year career in education where she was able to make a positive impact in young people's lives. She taught in the classroom for 10 years and worked as a counselor for 28 years, retiring on Oct. 31, 2022, from Carthage I.S.D. She loved horseback riding and spending time with family and friends at the ranch or at the family lake house on Lake Murvaul. Sherri also loved going to the beach especially Destin and made it a point to make her children go every year. She fought a tough battle with melanoma, staying positive through it all, and would always remind her family to "never, never give up." Sherri moved to Centennial in 1984, from Shreveport and was a member of First Baptist Church in Carthage.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 38 years, John Smith; daughters, Alex Cole and husband Dustin and Mary Katherine Smith; grandchildren, Adaline and Luke Cole; and siblings, Karen Dale and husband Raymond, Carey "Tuffy" Penn and wife Donna, and Candy Penn. Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends also survive.

A visitation will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022, at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home Chapel.

Memorials may be made to the Carthage Education Foundation, #1 Bulldog Dr., Carthage, TX 75633.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.