Obituary of Glenna Elizabeth Smith

On July 5, 1954 Glenna Elizabeth Smith was born in Beckley, West Virginia. Glenna was born to Royal Quinton Smith Jr and Georgia Elizabeth Jones. Glenna grew up in Boston Massachusetts with younger siblings. Glenna's family lived in Roxbury where she as a member of the Girls Scouts, learned to swim at the Roxbury YMCA, listening to her favorite 60's Motown girl group with her best friend Sadie. She was always mother's little helper and enjoyed taking care of her younger siblings. She was also, a member of Bethel Pentecostal Church in Roxbury. Glenna started her education in Roxbury, MA at the David A. Ellis Elementary School, then to the Timilty Middle School. The family then moved to Springfield, Massachusetts where Glenna attended Commerce High School in 1970, then to Dorchester, Massachusetts to attend Jeremiah E. Burke High School (a all girls School at the time) and graduated with honors in 1972. Glenna always managed to maintain high grades, without studying. Then Glenna attended Forsyth Dental School in Boston and graduated in 1973. While in high school Glenna worked at “Chicken La Go Go” in in Roxbury, then she was in a co-op program, where she interned at Filene's Department Store in Boston. After graduating from dental school, Glenna started working as a dental assistant at South End Dental Health center, where she as always were late for work (LOL). She developed a passion for learning her trade and enjoyed living and working in the South End of Boston and became a part of that community. After a 10 year courtship, Glenna married Lawrence Leo Townsend on August 21, 1988. Glenna was preceded in death by her ex-husband Lawrence Leo Townsend. Glenna enjoyed taking part in causes and donated her time by participating in The American Red Cross, American Cancer Society, Project Bread, WGBH-Boston and protests. Glenna was a city girl, she loved walking thru downtown Boston after work and weekend. Also Glenna enjoyed gardening and landscaping outside her Boston condo. During the summers she loved the beaches of New England, sharing her love of the ocean and seafood with her nephew Lucas. Glenna's devotion for family was beyond pure. She loved talking with cousins and close friends regarding politics and current events. Her Aunt Jessie and cousins Cheryl and Barbara were her hangout and travel partners. Glenna found joy in AfroCuban Jazz and going to the theater as her favorite was the Carol King show Beautiful. In 1996 Glenna took a dental assistant position at Harvard University School of Dentistry. Glenna thrived in that environment as it was her second home. The sharing, learning and caring for patients with her cherished co-workers, who many became friends after 25 years. Her friends at work, Ann and Duane were very important in her life, as they would help each other with work and life challenges. Her love for her students was impeccable. She would mention certain students that she was concerned about. Helping them through giving advice so that they would completely understand a procedure or just to lend a ear. Glenna was preceded in death by her parents Georgia Elizabeth Jones and Royal Quinton Smith Jr, sister Royalette (Lette) Duvall and brother Royal Smith. Glenna leaves to cherish her memories: Her brothers Douglas M Smith of Cranston RI, Rodney Smith of Baltimore, MD; her sisters Joyce A. Conard of Boston, MA, and Susan A Shears of Warren, RI; her nephew Lucas D. Shears; her niece Kristen Duvall, her brother-in-law Christopher Duvall, her beloved Aunt Jessica Tillman and many close cousins, close friends and co-workers.