Ingrid Surette (Cravens) Smith blessed this earth on September 29, 1948, born in Chicago to Charity and Hancy Cravens. Ingrid moved to Decatur with her parents when she was only a toddler. During her adolescent years, she attended Durfee Elementary School and Woodrow Wilson Junior High School.
She graduated from Douglas MacArthur High School in 1966, and continued her academic pursuits at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.
November 4, 1969, Ingrid gave birth to her daughter, Bridget. As any mother would, she made sacrifices to ensure a strong future for her daughter. Putting her education on hold, Ingrid began what would become a 42-year career with Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM). Her roles included sales, marketing, transportation and logistics, and project management. Each of these roles provided skill-development opportunities and an extensive network that would prove beneficial in her community activism. In May 1988, Ingrid received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Management from Sangamon State University (now the University of Illinois-Springfield). In November 1992, Ingrid married the love of her life, Walter E. Smith Sr, with whom she shared an exciting and loving 25-year marriage.
Ingrid was driven by a passion that demanded equity and inclusion for individuals affected by social, economic, health, and racial disparities. She lead and actively participated in organizations that supported the goal of improving the quality of life for several city, state, and national victims of inequity. She was a thoughtful leader who wanted people to march beside her not behind her. Her pursuit of justice for all was unmatched. Unwilling to say “No” when asked to help others, she never responded with “I’m done”. It was always “Who’s next”?
Her strong integrity and values motivated Ingrid’s activism and volunteerism to make Decatur feel home for natives and newcomers. Her membership and leadership on the many boards and committees which she served afforded her countless awards and acknowledgments, which includes but are not limited to: Past Decatur Chapter NAACP President, Past Springfield-Decatur Chapter President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Vice Chairperson of Finance Committee and Trustees for St. Peter’s A.M.E. Church, 1st Vice President and Parliamentarian of Illinois Conference Women’s Missionary Society, 1st Black Female Member of the National Honor Scholarship Society, Decatur Human Relations Commission, Women’s Golf Association, and Metro Black Chamber of Commerce. In most recent years, Ingrid was a trained domestic violence advocate at DOVE, Inc.
Ingrid was generous with her knowledge (whether you wanted it or not), her time, her talents, and her treasures. She loved her family - whether you were blood or the extended family she chose. She was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and auntie. She was a great friend, confidant, mentor, advocate, and coach to many. She did everything out of love and respect for humanity. Ingrid lived her life to the fullest and expected the same from those with whom she came in contact. She was a phenomenal person with a HUGE heart and will forever be missed.
Ingrid is survived by her husband, Walter E. Smith Sr.; her daughter, Bridget Cravens-Neely (James); her sister, Kim Cravens Nicholson; her brothers, Bobby Cravens and Chris Cravens; her nephews, Zachary Cravens (Kiana) and Dexter Cravens; her great-niece, Aiden; her stepchildren, Dana Hosea, Gerrett Smith and Walter E. Smith, Jr. (Alicia); her grandchildren, James Jr., Julian, Jaden, ShaQuan, Maresa, Shakur, Jakobie, Rylei, Alyasha, Mikiah, and Joliyah; great-grandson, Davion; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; countless nieces and nephews and close family friends.
Walker Funeral Service
She graduated from Douglas MacArthur High School in 1966, and continued her academic pursuits at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.
November 4, 1969, Ingrid gave birth to her daughter, Bridget. As any mother would, she made sacrifices to ensure a strong future for her daughter. Putting her education on hold, Ingrid began what would become a 42-year career with Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM). Her roles included sales, marketing, transportation and logistics, and project management. Each of these roles provided skill-development opportunities and an extensive network that would prove beneficial in her community activism. In May 1988, Ingrid received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Management from Sangamon State University (now the University of Illinois-Springfield). In November 1992, Ingrid married the love of her life, Walter E. Smith Sr, with whom she shared an exciting and loving 25-year marriage.
Ingrid was driven by a passion that demanded equity and inclusion for individuals affected by social, economic, health, and racial disparities. She lead and actively participated in organizations that supported the goal of improving the quality of life for several city, state, and national victims of inequity. She was a thoughtful leader who wanted people to march beside her not behind her. Her pursuit of justice for all was unmatched. Unwilling to say “No” when asked to help others, she never responded with “I’m done”. It was always “Who’s next”?
Her strong integrity and values motivated Ingrid’s activism and volunteerism to make Decatur feel home for natives and newcomers. Her membership and leadership on the many boards and committees which she served afforded her countless awards and acknowledgments, which includes but are not limited to: Past Decatur Chapter NAACP President, Past Springfield-Decatur Chapter President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Vice Chairperson of Finance Committee and Trustees for St. Peter’s A.M.E. Church, 1st Vice President and Parliamentarian of Illinois Conference Women’s Missionary Society, 1st Black Female Member of the National Honor Scholarship Society, Decatur Human Relations Commission, Women’s Golf Association, and Metro Black Chamber of Commerce. In most recent years, Ingrid was a trained domestic violence advocate at DOVE, Inc.
Ingrid was generous with her knowledge (whether you wanted it or not), her time, her talents, and her treasures. She loved her family - whether you were blood or the extended family she chose. She was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and auntie. She was a great friend, confidant, mentor, advocate, and coach to many. She did everything out of love and respect for humanity. Ingrid lived her life to the fullest and expected the same from those with whom she came in contact. She was a phenomenal person with a HUGE heart and will forever be missed.
Ingrid is survived by her husband, Walter E. Smith Sr.; her daughter, Bridget Cravens-Neely (James); her sister, Kim Cravens Nicholson; her brothers, Bobby Cravens and Chris Cravens; her nephews, Zachary Cravens (Kiana) and Dexter Cravens; her great-niece, Aiden; her stepchildren, Dana Hosea, Gerrett Smith and Walter E. Smith, Jr. (Alicia); her grandchildren, James Jr., Julian, Jaden, ShaQuan, Maresa, Shakur, Jakobie, Rylei, Alyasha, Mikiah, and Joliyah; great-grandson, Davion; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; countless nieces and nephews and close family friends.
Walker Funeral Service
Ingrid Surette (Cravens) Smith blessed this earth on September 29, 1948, born in Chicago to Charity and Hancy Cravens. Ingrid moved to Decatur with her parents when she was only a toddler. During her adolescent years, she attended Durfee Elementary School and Woodrow Wilson Junior High School.
She graduated from Douglas MacArthur High School in 1966, and continued her academic pursuits at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.
November 4, 1969, Ingrid gave birth to her daughter, Bridget. As any mother would, she made sacrifices to ensure a strong future for her daughter. Putting her education on hold, Ingrid began what would become a 42-year career with Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM). Her roles included sales, marketing, transportation and logistics, and project management. Each of these roles provided skill-development opportunities and an extensive network that would prove beneficial in her community activism. In May 1988, Ingrid received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Management from Sangamon State University (now the University of Illinois-Springfield). In November 1992, Ingrid married the love of her life, Walter E. Smith Sr, with whom she shared an exciting and loving 25-year marriage.
Ingrid was driven by a passion that demanded equity and inclusion for individuals affected by social, economic, health, and racial disparities. She lead and actively participated in organizations that supported the goal of improving the quality of life for several city, state, and national victims of inequity. She was a thoughtful leader who wanted people to march beside her not behind her. Her pursuit of justice for all was unmatched. Unwilling to say “No” when asked to help others, she never responded with “I’m done”. It was always “Who’s next”?
Her strong integrity and values motivated Ingrid’s activism and volunteerism to make Decatur feel home for natives and newcomers. Her membership and leadership on the many boards and committees which she served afforded her countless awards and acknowledgments, which includes but are not limited to: Past Decatur Chapter NAACP President, Past Springfield-Decatur Chapter President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Vice Chairperson of Finance Committee and Trustees for St. Peter’s A.M.E. Church, 1st Vice President and Parliamentarian of Illinois Conference Women’s Missionary Society, 1st Black Female Member of the National Honor Scholarship Society, Decatur Human Relations Commission, Women’s Golf Association, and Metro Black Chamber of Commerce. In most recent years, Ingrid was a trained domestic violence advocate at DOVE, Inc.
Ingrid was generous with her knowledge (whether you wanted it or not), her time, her talents, and her treasures. She loved her family - whether you were blood or the extended family she chose. She was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and auntie. She was a great friend, confidant, mentor, advocate, and coach to many. She did everything out of love and respect for humanity. Ingrid lived her life to the fullest and expected the same from those with whom she came in contact. She was a phenomenal person with a HUGE heart and will forever be missed.
Ingrid is survived by her husband, Walter E. Smith Sr.; her daughter, Bridget Cravens-Neely (James); her sister, Kim Cravens Nicholson; her brothers, Bobby Cravens and Chris Cravens; her nephews, Zachary Cravens (Kiana) and Dexter Cravens; her great-niece, Aiden; her stepchildren, Dana Hosea, Gerrett Smith and Walter E. Smith, Jr. (Alicia); her grandchildren, James Jr., Julian, Jaden, ShaQuan, Maresa, Shakur, Jakobie, Rylei, Alyasha, Mikiah, and Joliyah; great-grandson, Davion; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; countless nieces and nephews and close family friends.
Walker Funeral Service
She graduated from Douglas MacArthur High School in 1966, and continued her academic pursuits at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.
November 4, 1969, Ingrid gave birth to her daughter, Bridget. As any mother would, she made sacrifices to ensure a strong future for her daughter. Putting her education on hold, Ingrid began what would become a 42-year career with Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM). Her roles included sales, marketing, transportation and logistics, and project management. Each of these roles provided skill-development opportunities and an extensive network that would prove beneficial in her community activism. In May 1988, Ingrid received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Management from Sangamon State University (now the University of Illinois-Springfield). In November 1992, Ingrid married the love of her life, Walter E. Smith Sr, with whom she shared an exciting and loving 25-year marriage.
Ingrid was driven by a passion that demanded equity and inclusion for individuals affected by social, economic, health, and racial disparities. She lead and actively participated in organizations that supported the goal of improving the quality of life for several city, state, and national victims of inequity. She was a thoughtful leader who wanted people to march beside her not behind her. Her pursuit of justice for all was unmatched. Unwilling to say “No” when asked to help others, she never responded with “I’m done”. It was always “Who’s next”?
Her strong integrity and values motivated Ingrid’s activism and volunteerism to make Decatur feel home for natives and newcomers. Her membership and leadership on the many boards and committees which she served afforded her countless awards and acknowledgments, which includes but are not limited to: Past Decatur Chapter NAACP President, Past Springfield-Decatur Chapter President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Vice Chairperson of Finance Committee and Trustees for St. Peter’s A.M.E. Church, 1st Vice President and Parliamentarian of Illinois Conference Women’s Missionary Society, 1st Black Female Member of the National Honor Scholarship Society, Decatur Human Relations Commission, Women’s Golf Association, and Metro Black Chamber of Commerce. In most recent years, Ingrid was a trained domestic violence advocate at DOVE, Inc.
Ingrid was generous with her knowledge (whether you wanted it or not), her time, her talents, and her treasures. She loved her family - whether you were blood or the extended family she chose. She was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and auntie. She was a great friend, confidant, mentor, advocate, and coach to many. She did everything out of love and respect for humanity. Ingrid lived her life to the fullest and expected the same from those with whom she came in contact. She was a phenomenal person with a HUGE heart and will forever be missed.
Ingrid is survived by her husband, Walter E. Smith Sr.; her daughter, Bridget Cravens-Neely (James); her sister, Kim Cravens Nicholson; her brothers, Bobby Cravens and Chris Cravens; her nephews, Zachary Cravens (Kiana) and Dexter Cravens; her great-niece, Aiden; her stepchildren, Dana Hosea, Gerrett Smith and Walter E. Smith, Jr. (Alicia); her grandchildren, James Jr., Julian, Jaden, ShaQuan, Maresa, Shakur, Jakobie, Rylei, Alyasha, Mikiah, and Joliyah; great-grandson, Davion; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; countless nieces and nephews and close family friends.
Walker Funeral Service
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