Gloria Dean "Derrick" Smith was born to the parentage of Leroy Turner and Nellie Marie Derrick on February 22, 1935, in Gilmer Texas. She lived most of her childhood being raised by her grandparents Gordan and Dessie Derrick. Gloria accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior in her childhood years at Gilgal Baptist Church. "Gloria Dean", as family and friends so affectionally called her, attended Bruce High School in Gilmer Tx. She went on to higher education at Prairie View College where she obtained a Bachelor/Master degree, Majoring in Education and Economics. Returning home to Gilmer, she began teaching at her Alma Mata Bruce High School. Shortly afterwards, she moved to Dallas, Texas and began working at The Jewish Foundation as a typist, during which time she met and married Carlton L. Smith. Having three children Bambi, Carlton, and Stacey, she began the lifelong journey of a devoted and loving mother. Gloria joined Community Bible Church in the late 1960's under Pastor Ruben S. Conner I where she servedas a Sunday School teacher. She went on to work at Zales Corporation for a short time before navigating her way back to her passion for education. She started her career with D.I.S.D. as a school teacher working at W. W. Bushman, Ascher Silberstein, and then T. G. Terry Elementary School. As an educator, she was known for her stern tenacity to help students excel in all areas of language arts. When necessary, she regularly engaged parents, by phone or letter, using these tools in her efforts to educate.

After many years of service, she finally retired leaving the role of educator for others to fill. Many former students frequently connected with her to lavish their gratitude for the education received in her classroom. Her teaching legacy was a commitment to providing every student with a quality education as she believed it would provide endless opportunities to achieve success. She was not only this way with her students in the classroom, but also with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She later became a charter member with Southwest Bible Fellowship in Duncanville Texas.

Gloria had a host of talents of which were all expressed in her endless hobbies. She loved fishing with family, old friends, and new friends. She fished at lakes, creeks, and ponds. Gloria also enjoyed sewing, shopping for clothes, cooking, barbequing, photography, shopping for clothes, pets, shopping for clothes, sightseeing, family and friend gatherings, shopping for clothes, Titches, Sanger Harris, JCPenny, Joskes, Nieman Marcus, Sears, Foleys, Dillards, etc.

While Gloria was a friend to many, a few of her dearest and lifelong family/friends from early years are Frankie (Craig) and George Roland, Mattie "B" (Craig) and John Samples Sr., Ora Lee (Cook) Smith, Walter Cook Sr., Alva and Roger Webb, Margaret (Andrews) and Lafayette Miles, Louise Davis, Geneva(Gen) and Ruben Conner I, neighbors Mildred and Robert Guy, Bernice and Edgar Williams.

Teacher friends - Mrs. Holubec, Ms. Grant, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Nevels, Mrs. Turner Ray, Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Strickland, CoachHolley.

Gloria leaves to cherish her memories daughter Bambi M. Smith of Dallas Tx, son Carlton L. Smith, Jr. (Oletha) of Cedar Hill Tx, daughter Stacey D. Smith McClendon (Tony) of Cedar Hill Tx, grandchildren Brealand L.  Gray, Kendal C. Smith, and Latrissa L. Smith Jacobs (Charles), great-grandchildren Wendell J. Day, Jr., Amari J. Jacobs, and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews.