Feb.19-- Mrs. Opal Dent Smith Lassiter, age 96, of Vidalia, died Saturday, February 15, 2020, at her daughter’s home, after a brief illness. She was a native of Johnson County and moved to Toombs County in 1936. She lived in Mobile, Alabama most of her life and in Macon for the past six years. To help with the war effort during World War II, she was a “Rosie the Riveter”, working in Rome with parachute yarn and in Macon where she made ammunition for Naval ordnance. She was a member of the First Assembly of God in Vidalia and a former member of the Chickasaw Assembly of God near Mobile, and also she worked in the women’s ministry, making quilts and doing other things for those in need. She was preceded in death by two husbands, Coma G. Smith and Lonnie H. Lassiter, Sr.; one son, William Gary Smith; parents, Glenn Dent and Irene Vanlandingham Dent; three sisters, Rema Dunagan, Elsie Clarke and Edna Dees; and three brothers, Veda Dent, Charles Dent and Keith Dent.
Mrs. Lassiter is survived by two daughters, Sharon Smith Caprara and husband James Arlington, Texas, and Ponecia Smith of Macon; four grandchildren, Dana Jabbari and husband Fred of Mobile, Tamera Morris and husband James of Arlington, Sarah Crook and husband Brian of Perry, and Garret Gill of Macon; seven great-grandchildren, Brittnay, Courtney, Wesley, Jay, Anson, Logan and Madison; two great-great-grandchildren; two sisters-in law, Naomi Dent and Julia Dent; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The funeral service will be held Wednesday, February 19th, at 3:00 p.m. in the chapel of Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home with Pastor Michael Branson officiating. Burial will follow in the South Thompson Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday afternoon from 1:00 until just prior to the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or by visiting their website at StJude.org
Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home of Vidalia is in charge of arrangements.
