Gwendolyn Lavelle Smith was born on October 28, 1942 to the late Eleanor Knight and Lawrence White. Gwen (as we affectionately called her) departed this life on December 9, 2022, at Lynchburg General Hospital. She was raised in Farmville, Virginia. At an early age Gwen was baptized and joined First Baptist Church. The closing of the schools affected Gwen, yet she pursued her education and graduated from Kittrell College in North Carolina. She was united in marriage to Russell Smith. They were together for over 27 years. He predeceased her in 2022. During her work career she had various jobs, she retired after 20 plus years from the VA Department of Corrections where she worked as a guard at Buckingham and Nottoway. She was a hard worker with a loving heart, a giving spirit, and a helpful manner to everybody. Gwen loved to go to church and listen to all types of music. Some of her pastimes were: dancing, playing checkers, watching her favorite TV shows: family feud, and old westerns. In addition to her parents and husband preceding her in death, so did her son Wayne Royce Vanduyne Jr. Gwen leaves to cherish her memory: her brother Gilbert White of New Jersey, her daughter Felice Hines of Farmville, her grandsons Royce VanDuyne, Brian McCray, Augusta; and Rocco. Her great grandson Victory. Her favorite granddaughter Cara Hines of Virginia Beach. Special friends Brenda Holman and Jermon Lawson. A host of relatives and friends.