Smithers began as the director of community services for Continental Cablevision before taking the position as clerk of Springfield City Commission, which she held for nine years. She was credited as a stabilizing force during a tumultuous time at City Hall.
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She also worked at the United Way of Clark, Champaign and Madison Counties before she took the position of project coordinator for Fighting Back, a program that discouraged drug and alcohol abuse.
She also served her community by working on the Enon Village Council as a council member. While on the council, Smithers worked with Tim Howard, current mayor of Enon.
“She was a wonderful person and I considered her a friend,” Howard said. “I think the passion that she showed was an example of what it’s like to live in a small town and care about your community.”
He added that she was instrumental to the different committees that she was on, such as the Parks and Beautification committee and the Sesquicentennial committee.
“She was very dedicated to the people of Enon,” Howard said.
Marge Travis, who also served on the village council with Smithers, said the two of them were best friends.
“When we made decisions in council, even if we weren’t happy about the decision, we supported the decision 100 percent,” Travis said. “She was a very civic minded person.”
In her free time, Smithers enjoyed making cards and won several best in show prizes at the Clark County Fair. She also loved to garden.
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“She was one of the most positive people,” her husband of 55 years, Lester Smithers, said. “She had something good to say about everybody and she would chastise you if you said something bad about someone.”
Priscilla Smithers was also involved in the League of Women Voters, Springfield Chapter of The Links, and Springfield’s Black Women’s Leadership Conference.
“I don’t think she ever met a person she didn’t like,” her husband said. “She always started in the position that this is a good person until proven otherwise.”
Priscilla Smithers was born in Parkersburg, W.V. in 1932, along with her twin sister, Patricia. She was a member of the first integrated class at Parkersburg.
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Priscilla Smithers is survived by her husband, Lester Smithers; her daughters, Sheila Taylor of Westerville and Lisa Ann Smithers of Land O’ Lakes, Fla.; and her grandson, Troy Taylor II.
The visitation will take place at 10 a.m. July 24 at New North Street A.M.E. Church, 901 S. Center St. The service will follow at noon. Buried will be at Ferncliff Cemetery.
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