Berlean Eva Smith was born on February 2, 1930, in Rice Virginia. She was the oldest of seven children born to the late Henry and Maggie Miller. She departed this life and was called from labor and received her reward on May 16, 2025, peacefully in her daughter’s home in Norfolk, VA.

Berlean attended Prince Edward County Public Schools until she was united in Holy Matrimony to the late Vester Smith in the year of 1947. From this union came four children: William Smith (Elaine), Lillian Smith, Sylvester Smith and Mable Turner (Steven). In the early 1961, Berlean was faced with becoming a single mother with the passing of her beloved husband Vester. Faced with this challenge, Berlean was forced to seek a better life to raise her children, so she moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She sought out work in sewing, where she had gainful employment until she retired.

After the death of her oldest daughter, Lillian, Berlean made the ultimate sacrifice to stop working to raise her grandchildren. In 1996, she moved back home to Rice, VA to provide a better life for those grandchildren.

Berlean was a faithful member of High Rock Baptist Church, until her health began to decline. She accepted Christ at an early age and continue to serve the Lord as a dedicated mother to children of her neighborhood in Philadelphia, PA and Rice, VA, and nourished them and her own.

To cherish her memory, she leaves behind: her loving children, William, Sylvester and Mable; her grandchildren, Clifton (Tabitha), Darrell, Kendra, Everette, Jennifer, Lahara (Keshawn), Mahara, Megan, Steven D, Kiana, and Candyce. She also leaves a host of great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.