“Mother Julia Smith Osborne was born November 23, 1942, to Felder and Lucy Broom Smith of Delhi, Louisiana. She was the sixth of eight children, having four brothers and three sisters.
Preceding her in death were four brothers, Johncie Broom, Felder Smith, Sr., Edward Smith, Sr., and Freddie Ray Smith; and two sisters, Ruth Broom St. Cyr and Yvonne (Joe) Smith Bender.
She leaves one sister, Clara Smith Gilbert, and eight sisters-in-love, Joann Prelow Smith and Virginia Smith, both of Delhi, Louisiana; Dora Smith of Las Vegas, Nevada; Ellen Goggins Akron, Ohio; Sofronia Carr, Dr. Elnora Montgomery, and Ruth Osborne of Grambling, Louisiana; Beattie (Carl) Street of Arcadia, Louisiana; and Betty Osborne of Dallas, Texas to cherish her unforgettable memories.
She was united in the bonds of Holy Matrimony with Brother Moses Osborne, her spouse of 56 years, on June 22, 1964. Together they shared a love of family.
Mother Osborne was the mother of four wonderful sons: Lincoln “Fitzgerald” Osborne and Kelvin Kenneth Osborne, both of Dallas, Texas; Moses R. (Judy) Osborne of University City, Missouri; and Robert R. Green of Grambling, Louisiana; one amazing daughter, Karen K. Roberson of Dallas, Texas; one son-in-love, Ronald Roberson; two brilliant granddaughters, Brittany Roberson of Washington, DC and LaShunda Melton of Houston, Texas; one favorite grandson, Keilan Roberson, three outstanding great-grandsons, LaCameron, Kammeron, and Xavier Melton of Houston, Texas; remarkable nieces, Brenda Armstrong, Patricia Smith Levels, and Dr. Rochelle (Sean) Gilbert-Abram, all of Monroe, Louisiana; Sarai Baylor of Carson, California; Niki Brass and Robyn Taylor both of Las Vegas, Nevada; Jacqueline Denise Smith of Houston, Texas; and extraordinary nephews, Daryl Smith of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Anthony Ray Smith and Kenneth Wayne Smith both of Delhi, Louisiana; Sylvester St. Cyr of Las Vegas, Nevada, Vernon Smith and Edward Smith, Jr. both of Houston, Texas.
Mother Julia Marie Smith Osborne
The school day consists of periods or blocks of time allocated for lessons or classes. The quality and duration of these periods are established by educators who also oversee the utilization of each period . . . what is taught. The school bell symbolizes the markings of the beginning and end of the school day, class periods, and breaks.
Today, we celebrate the ringing of “Mother Julia Osborne’s” LAST BELL, the End of Her Earthly School Day, for on the afternoon of April 29, 2023, God stood at the Heavenly Classroom Doorway. The Final Period was taught, no more lessons on this side, and He rang the “Final Bell” for his Faithful servant, and
Mother Julia Marie Smith Osborne was dismissed to her celestial day’s end.
To Mother Julia Smith Osborne, the entire world was a schoolroom. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, she was a teacher in the classroom of life. To everyone around her, she seemed to be undeniably happy, and she willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life she touched. For “Mother Osborne,” bringing out the best in people, notably her students and any situation, was as easy as offering a point of wisdom (teaching them) or a candid remark (educating them), as well as making an impact every day.
Mother Julia Smith Osborne mastered the art of imparting knowledge and had great fun in so doing. From big moments that shifted the trajectory of the lives of others to small occurrences, Mother Osborne made her students feel safe, challenged yet appreciated, and ready to learn. With those simple gestures, she could evoke the sincerest arrays of emotion, from laughter to amazement. She was the teacher everyone needed.
Mrs. Osborne, as she was affectionally called, started life’s school day one beautiful autumn afternoon when the leaves were falling under the reflected light of the kaleidoscopic sun shining over the school building as the students played in the schoolyard creating a picturesque scene. At that moment, God introduced her to the world and spoke to her, saying, “Come in and Have a Seat”. At the signal of the bell ringing, she took her proper position at the desk of life, ready to learn from the ultimate teacher while also embracing her calling as an educator who would influence the lives of many.
As she prepared for the day, the Lord rang the Homeroom bell. “Mrs. Osborne” assumed her position to begin her day’s work. As the bell would ring, she readied herself for the tasks ahead, imparting knowledge, demonstrating lessons, and working diligently. As classes exchanged, she continued to instruct her students, mentor her colleagues, and impact the lives of her friends and family. With each ring of the bell, Mrs. Osborne devoted herself to her work, leaving a lasting impression on those she encountered.
Ecclesiastes 9:11
“I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.” Ecclesiastes 9:11
Mother Julia Marie Smith Osborne
Homeroom Bell — That preparatory period that occurred in a religiously splendid way as this Christian woman, with an undying faith in the teachings of the Bible and a belief in the highest good that could be achieved by prayer as taught by her father and mother, invested her talents in the schoolhouse of God’s church.
