Obituary of Sharon Stokes Smith

Sharon Stokes Smith, of Seymour CT passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 and transitioned to heaven to begin her eternal life at the age of ninety-four. Born in Bridgeport CT on July 13, 1931. Sharon was the youngest daughter of the late James Stokes and Exie (Peake) Stokes.

Sharon believed she was born to wander…after graduating from Central High School she moved to NYC as she was awarded a most coveted scholarship to attend and study at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in Manhattan, NY. Due to limited finances, she lived at the Manhattan YWCA and during her stay two military recruiters gave a presentation that sparked her interest. She listened with enthusiasm to the WAF of the U.S. Air Force and the WM of the U.S. Marines.

Sharon proudly shared that she chose to enlist in the Air Force as she believed their dress blue uniform was more snazzy than the Marines. In February 1952, at the tender age of 21 Sharon entered the United States Air Force and proudly served her country during the Korean War conflict. She earned a Good Conduct Medal and also the National Defense Service Medal.

Her military career began with basic training at Lackland AFB in Texas. After successfully completing basic training she was given orders to report to the Royal Air Force base installation located in Wales, England. During this time she was able to travel to and wander to many countries such as France, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland to name a few.

During this time she met her future husband Morris Allen Smith ll who was also stationed there as a U.S. Air Force soldier. They were married in December 1954. Military orders were then given to report to Fort Meade in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. A son, her first born was born at Fort Meade. Her second child, a daughter was born two years later. Now considered a military wife with military dependents orders were received for the family to report to Ladd AFB in Fairbanks, Alaska. As a family, they spent over 30 months in Alaska and lived on base in military housing. Orders were then given to report for duty at Plattsburgh AFB located in upper New York State very close to the Canadian border. They remained at Plattsburgh AFB for 17 months.

Upon receiving a honorable discharge from the military, Sharon returned home to Bridgeport CT and began her second career as a civil servant for the federal government. She was assigned to the Social Security Administration division and gave 28 years of exemplary service. Upon her retirement, she fulfilled a personal wish to open her own women's consignment clothing boutique and named the store "Sharon's Shelf".

Sharon satisfied her desire to be able to communicate with deaf and hearing impaired persons by taking classes sponsored by the Bridgeport Catholic Diocese where she learned American Sign Language (ASL). She applied herself, as she had to because the instructor was deaf and could only communicate with students by signing. Wanting to put her new ability to the test, she planned a vacation to Washington D. C. and spent many days on the campus of Gallaudet University. It provided her tremendous joy and satisfaction that she learned to sign. She was proud to say that she was now bilingual.

Sharon leaves to cherish her memory a daughter, Daria (Kevin) Anderson and her brother-in-law Renard Brooks. Several nieces and nephews who deeply loved her and many friends including a most caring neighbor Ms. Sarah Harris. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her son, Morris Allen Smith III. Three brothers, Whitney Stokes, Carroll Stokes and James Stokes. Two sisters, Ora Lee Stokes and Gertrude Stokes Brown.

Friends are invited to greet the family on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Road, Trumbull CT.

A celebration of Sharon's life to begin promptly at 10:30 a.m. The service will conclude with a presentation of Military Honors at 12:00 noon.

In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make memorial contributions to the Alzheimer's Association of CT, 10 Executive Drive, Suite 202, Farmington, CT 06032 or at www.alz.org/ct/.

To leave an online condolence, visit www.abriola.com.