Emelda Smith Wilson, 95, who was born on Dec. 15, 1921, in New Orleans, and a resident of Bogalusa, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017, at Our Lady of the Angels Hospital in Bogalusa.

Words alone are deeply inadequate to describe the grief our family and friends feel after losing our mother. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother and true friend to many. She was an Angel on earth for all of us and we will truly miss her love, guidance, and inspiration.

She is survived by her daughter, Barbara W. Spiers; a son, Kenneth E. Wilson Jr. (Darlene); seven grandchildren, Debra S. Bruno (Tony), Joseph L. “Jay” Hall Jr., Cam Elizabeth Lucas, Joshua Kalena, Stephanie Clayton (Doug), Alexis B. Wilson and Kenneth E. Wilson III; seven great-grandchildren; a great-great grandson, Brayden Smith; a future great-great granddaughter; and a son-in-law, Joseph Hall.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth E. Wilson Sr.; a daughter, Lynda W. Hall; her father Oliver L. Smith; her mother, Mary S. Walters; her step-father, Andrew J. Walters; her son-in-law, O. R. Spiers Sr.; a grandson, Chuck Spiers; three sisters, Beulah Jones, Evelyn Barham and Gladys Grimes; and brothers, Henry Smith, Oliver Smith and Woodrow Smith.

Visitation was held at Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home on Tuesday, Nov. 7, from 5:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. Visitation will continue at Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home Chapel on Wednesday, Nov. 8, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m., with the Rev. Clay Norwood officiating. Interment will follow at Ponemah Cemetery.

To view and sign the register book, visit online at pooleritchiefuneralhome.com.