Lucille T. Smith

Mrs. Lucille T. Smith Born December 5, 1917, Lucille Ford was the second child and only girl to Mr. & Mrs. Charles "Dock" Ford of LaGrange, GA. Both her parents and all her siblings, Charles Ford, Jr., Curtis Ford, Willie Rufus Ford and Fred H. Ford have preceded her in death. She accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized in a creek behind the old Mt. Zion Church of LaGrange. Lucille was the great-granddaughter of a slave through her maternal grandmother, Mollie Bell Lee Florence; during the mid-1920's she was relegated to caring for another slave relative, an "Uncle Mark", who told her she wasn't 'no count' and he'd readily 'will sell her for a bale of cotton', if he could. She defied the odds of her humble beginnings and graduated from East Depot Street High School of LaGrange, class of 1935-36. She was awarded a scholarship in 1936 to Spelman College, Lucille also attended Fort Valley State College, Ft Valley, GA, where she got her Georgia State teaching certificate and subsequently, her first teaching job in Piney Woods GA. In 1941, with WWII looming, the United States Government began recruiting civilians, especially women, to work for the Department Of War,...[more]

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is is how Lucille began her 40 plus year career with the Federal Government. She was first stationed in Washington, DC, where she had the very important job of shredding documents. She rose through the ranks, learning short-hand and typing while becoming one of the first Negro receptionists in the General's office. She was then transferred to Newark, NJ; where after working in the office, she would put on her dancing shoes to be a part of the USO and become pen pals and dancing partners with the departing WWII soldiers and sailors. She met and married Richard Taplin with whom she had her only daughter, Casandra. He has preceded her in death. Before the end of the war, she was transferred to St. Louis, MO., to learn the military pay system. She was part of the elite St. Louis Contingent that came to Indianapolis, IN, in 1952 to initiate the Military Pay Division at Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN which is responsible for ensuring the proper payments for the entire Armed Forces of the United States government. Lucille then married David D. Smith after the move to Indianapolis and was very supportive in helping her husband bring the union, the American Federation of Government Employees, to the bargaining table at Fort Benjamin Harrison. They were successful in getting union representation for Fort Harrison employees and Mr. Smith served as union president for several years. He preceded her in death. She received many accolades during her tenure with Fort Benjamin Harrison. The newspaper, The Harrison Post, often had articles pronouncing her many accomplishments. She was noted for being the coordinator of the first Pre-Retirement Planning Program ever held at the US Army Finance and Accounting Center with over 400 attendees at the 2-day pioneer program. She instituted and was honored as Founder, Fort Harrison Chapter of Toastmaster International, in 1971. She was granted degrees from Butler University, Indianapolis, IN (B.S.); Ball State University, Muncie IN (M,A,); post- graduate work in counseling from Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN; and an MBA from the University of Colorado, Greeley, CO. She was the former coordinator of the Upward Mobility Programs at Fort Benjamin Harrison; Program Manager of Vietnam Veterans; Deputy Director, Personnel Management For Executives; and Educational Development Specialist, Office of Personnel Management, Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN. The Harrison Post noted, "... don't know how she accomplished it, because at the same time, Lucille was active in church work, was a leader in a Girl Scout Troop, and sponsor of a teen-age Girls Club. Congratulations, Lucille!" She was honored in the 1986 publication, OUTSTANDING BLACK WOMEN IN THE STATE OF INDIANA Volume II, published by the National Council of Negro Women-Indianapolis Section of which she holds the Life Membership. Her sorority is Phi Delta Kappa. Lucille has received special awards from the NCNW and Black Women of the Midwest. She was honored by Morris Dees & Rosa Parks who had her name placed on the WALL OF TOLERANCE as a Founding Member of the National Campaign for Tolerance, February 15, 2002. She served on the Boards of Crooked Creek Community Council, and was President of the Grandview Civic Association. She worked tirelessly with Indianapolis city leaders including Richard Lugar, William Hudnut, Andy Jacobs, Sr. and Jr., Bart Peterson, and Senators Robert Lee Brokenburr and Julia Carson. She was part of the visioning committee with Father Boniface Hardin to be part of the founding of Martin University, in Indianapolis, IN., 1977. In her work as a member with Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Indianapolis, she served on and was President of Lott Carey Missionary Society, taught Sunday School, was a volunteer with the Mount Zion Geriatric Center, Zion Workers Club, and the Busy Bee Clubs. Without thought of remuneration she volunteered to drive the elderly shopping or transport neighborhood children to school during inclement weather or if they missed the bus. She truly exemplified her belief in the verses of the Holy Bible in I Corinthians 13: 1-7. Not one of her many rewards were exhibited on her walls. She vaunted not herself but gave all the Glory to God. Leaving to mourn her is her only daughter, Casandra Niambi Steele, two grandsons, Allan T. and Robert J. Steele; five great-grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren, and hosts of other family and friends. She will be truly missed by the Indianapolis community and her family members from all over the United States and internationally.