Weldon Sugarmon Smith was born in Gunnison, Mississippi on February 6, 1924, to Russell B. Sugarmon and Lessye Hank Sugarmon. When she was three years old, the family moved to Memphis, Tennessee. The daughter of a real estate broker, Weldon grew up in the family home at 780 Wlaker Avenue, and attended the Second Congregational Church and LeMoyne Normal School through grade three and then entered The Cooperative School.
After graduating from Booker T. Washington High School At age fifteen,, she entered Talladega College in Alabama, and later transferred to Boston University (Sargent College), where she earned a bachelor’s degree. She completed one year of graduate studies at Northwestern University in Illinois in the field of guidance counseling, and then moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where she taught at Washinton Technical High School for two semesters.
On April 21, 1946, she married Dr. Sidney Smith, a practicing internist, who predeceased her in 1991. Three sons were born to them: Craig Sidney Smith, Barry Bertrand Smith, and Kevin Sugarmon Smith.
Called “Sugar” by family and friends, she was actively involved in service organizations, including Links, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She was also a member of the Smart Set and Circle-Lets. She served on various boards, including both the St. Louis and National Urban League, Geriatric Research Advisory Committee of St. Louis University, Coro Foundation, Panel of American Women (eight years), Nursery Foundation, Advisory Committee of Stowe Teachers College (three years), Metropolitan YWCA (five years), and Grace Hill House (three years).
She also served as a volunteer for Children in Special Education. She traveled extensively to Asia, North and West Africa, Europe, and South America, visiting Brazil, Thailand, Spain, Turkey Morocco, China, and the Czech Republic. In 2000, she moved to Greensboro, North Carolina, and then to Bluffton, South Carolina, (near Hilton Head), before returning to live permanently in St. Louis.
She was predeceased by her brother, the Honorable Russell B. Sugarmon of Memphis; she is survived by her sons, Craig S. Smith (Gloria) of Greensboro, Barry B. Smith of St. Louis, and Kevin S. Smith of St. Louis., as well as her nephew and nieces in Memphis. In accordance with her wishes, her body has been donated for scientific research and a private family gathering will be held at a later date.
