Meet Sonia Smith: A Woman of Substance
Mary Ann Taylor
Who is Sonia Smith? Today, she’s president of a women’s ministry in Duncanville, Cedar Hill, a bit of Midlothian, and a slice of Dallas. She’s also a risk management officer. She’s a talented dancer who found a wonderful partner in her husband. And she’s a mother of two, grandmother of ten, sister to seven.
Sonia Smith has seen many places and done many things. It’s been a great journey—but it’s also been a life of learning. She was born in Greenville, North Carolina, where she still has family. When she was a toddler, her family moved to Daytona Beach, Florida. Growing up with seven siblings made for a full life.
Forced busing was a reality of her youth. She and other Black students from her neighborhood attended Seabreeze High. Integration took her miles from her home. Her older sister stayed at Mainland High in their neighborhood where white students were bused. Sonia learned that the system worked only to expose the two cultures to each other. It wasn’t successful in creating real interaction except within the sports teams. Much more time was needed to form real connections between students, although the integration of the sports teams created strong bonds and cohesion.
Sonia learned from her high school experiences much about people from diverse backgrounds. Life after high school was more difficult than she’d imagined, however. The next years of her life brought the heartache of a beautiful baby boy who died of viral pneumonia and the stress of a military marriage that included multiple forced separations. When she returned to the Dallas area, she came with a son and daughter and great prospects in the business world.
A start-up company paid for her move, and she loved the upward trajectory she was on. Her employers had always recognized her strong work ethic and her skill at problem-solving. Her children flourished, married, and gave her seven grandchildren.
After being single for seventeen years, Sonia met her husband because both loved to dance. After many dances, they finally exchanged phone numbers, met for breakfast at Denny’s, and haven’t looked back. Again, she had talent and determination in both life and dancing, which he recognized. He brought another family along, adding two children and three more grandchildren.
After twenty years with no church attendance at all, Sonia felt the need to find that connection again. A friend at work was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He gave her a Book of Mormon—which sat unread for several years—and answered her questions for another several years. Finally, Sonia start attending services and joined the Church in 2010. She currently serves as president of the women’s organization.
Sonia Smith exudes confidence and competence. In her quiet voice, she speaks from the heart and shares the love and guidance she feels from her Heavenly Father and the Savior. She’s a delight to know—and she plans to keep on dancing, of course.
Mary Ann Taylor is communications director for the Dallas Texas Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints living in Duncanville.
