Paula Denise Smith

Paula Denise Smith (née Stevens), a woman known for her fierce spirit, passed away peacefully on October 8th, 2025, in Clemmons, at the age of 62, following a battle with Pancreatic Cancer.

Born on December 2, 1962, Paula was (mostly) a lifelong resident of the Winston-Salem area, aside from a roughly 10 year period in the DC area, Germany, and Fayetteville before returning to the Winston-Salem area in 1995. She attended East Forsyth and Carver High Schools. She briefly put her fierce, lively spirit to work as a cheerleader in high school, though her “legendary attitude” ultimately led to her being "kicked off the team". Professionally, she served in the medical side of the US Air Force in the 1980s, worked as a civilian for the Army while in Germany, and followed by an administrative role at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital.

Often described as headstrong, stubborn, and yet still incredibly loving and loyal, Paula’s personality was known for her "love me or hate me" intensity. If you treated her well, she loved you with the same intensity. She loved her friends, family and neighbors, though she often knew the neighborhood dogs better than their owners. She was self described as "average looking” in civilian clothes but was "hot in the Air Force uniform.”

Paula found joy in the simple, yet essential, things:

● Her music from the 70s and 80s, including Earth Wind and Fire, REO Speedwagon, Chicago, and had a deep love for Celine Dion’s music - she would let you know it was her jam by doing her signature dance move of throwing both hands over her and doing a hip shimmy

● Sitting in the backyard of her "she shed" smoking a cigarette in her robe and throwing up her hand to wave to anyone she knew driving or walking by saying “Hey Miss Paula!”

● A midnight Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop-Tart (which no one dared touch the last of, especially her son after a late night run in with her).

● And finally, though not a great cook, she perfected a few family favorites, including green bean casserole, broccoli casserole, squash and onions, and a “mean” cornbread always made in a cast iron skillet.

She was a loving wife and doting mother who loved her son more than anything in the world. Her story truly cannot be told without underscoring the tremendous impact her husband had made on her in the almost 30 years they were together. He became one of the biggest blessings in her life with his love and devotion to her all the way to her last moment here.

She is survived by her loving husband, Jeff Smith, of Clemmons; her son, Zach Anderson of Charlotte; her stepdaughter and son-in-law, Lauren and Drew Cochran of Athens, Georgia; her mother, Lillie Little, and stepfather, Bill Little, of Clemmons; the still-living fur baby Taz. She will be profoundly missed by her close-knit surrogate family, neighbors Tom and Abby and their children (her surrogate grandchildren), Mackenzie and Eleanor.

Paula is preceded in death by her daughter, Chelsea Lauren Anderson, her father, Paul Otto Stevens and her fur babies Gertrude, Lexus, Peanut, and Chi Chi.

Her Celebration of Life Services will be held on October 17th at 2:00 pm at Westlawn Gardens of Memory in Clemmons, NC. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Humane Society of Forsyth County. A cause she was passionate about. She would’ve loved to donate her time there, however, she was always afraid she would leave with all of the dogs and cats.