Agatha Jo Dearing Smith, age 88, died June 29, 2026. She was born on December 3, 1937, in Glasgow, Ky., the only child of Bennie Millard “Red” Dearing and Virginia Noble Dearing. She came to Virginia as a toddler and claimed both Farmville and Cumberland County as home. After graduating from Farmville High School, she received both her B.A. and M.S. from Longwood College. She married John Marshall Smith Sr. in 1959 and taught at Prince Edward Academy. They have three children, six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Following the death of her husband’s father, Jo readily adapted to farm work alongside her husband at High Bridge Farm while continuing all her usual duties as a mother, homemaker, and substitute teacher. Although she and John later separated, they remained supportive of each other and devoted to their family. Jo continued her interest in High Bridge Farm and was the bookkeeper for its operation for many years.

Jo was an active member of the Farmville United Methodist Church where she served on the Altar Guild. She also served on the Wesley Foundation Board and was a member of the Southside Emmaus Community. She served as president of the National Longwood Alumni Association and in 1972 was recognized among the Outstanding Young Women of America. She was a charter member of the Redbud Garden Club, a member of both the Cumberland and Farmville-Prince Edward historical societies, and of the Cumberland County Museum. 

Her fascination with the High Bridge train trestle began when she moved to the farm. As a result of her research on its history and her collection of pictures, she wrote and printed a booklet entitled, “A History of High Bridge.” She also developed a slide presentation of her pictures and enjoyed sharing it with many local organizations as well as with groups in Richmond and Lynchburg. She continued to follow the development of the High Bridge Trail State Park and was a member of the Friends group of the park and of the Friends of Sailor’s Creek Battlefield State Park.

 Her grandchildren and great-grandson were a big joy of her life, and she shared her love of the farm, gardening, flowers, and the outdoors with family and friends throughout her life.

Survivors include her sons, John Marshall Smith, Jr. (Beth) and Millard Todd Smith, both of Cumberland County, Va.; her daughter, Debra Smith Fitzgerald (Dave) of Glen Allen, Va.; and her children’s father, John Marshall Smith, Sr. of Cumberland County. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Cary Elizabeth Fitzgerald, Emily Fitzgerald Hazelgrove (William), Mary Katherine Smith, Hannah Wilson Smith, Jordan Marshall Smith, and Cal Dearing Smith (Sydney); and her great-grandson, John William Hazelgrove.

A memorial service will be held at Farmville United Methodist Church on July 11, 2026, at 1 p.m. Interment will be private. Contributions may be made to Farmville United Methodist Church Altar Fund, P.O. Box 64, Farmville, VA 23901.