The congregation of Camp Ground Baptist Church, Ozark, in Dale Baptist Association recently celebrated the 100th birthday of its second-oldest member, Eulalia Smith. Born Aug. 9, 1907, Smith has lived in Ozark since birth. She gave her heart to Jesus and joined Camp Ground Baptist (then known as Pleasant Hill Baptist) in 1924. Smith began teaching Sunday School at age 15 and taught continuously until she “retired” three years ago at age 97. Over the years, she also served as Vacation Bible School director, presided over the church’s Woman’s Missionary Union and led Sunbeams and Girls in Action.
Smith’s contributions to the life of the church, as well as her faithfulness and dedication to serving the Lord, were recognized during Camp Ground’s Sunday morning service Aug. 5. Several members of the congregation shared testimonies as to the impact “Mrs. Eulalia” has had on their lives, and Ozark’s mayor, Bob Bunting, presented her with a mayoral proclamation declaring it Mrs. Eulalia Smith Day. A churchwide luncheon honoring Smith took place after the service. Dessert was a big “Happy 100th Birthday” cake. Pastor Al Sonanstine described her as “a very special lady, well loved and respected by all, a pillar of our church, a true saint of God, always offering a smile and word of encouragement to those she meets.” The church’s oldest member, Gladys Circle, will turn 101 Sept. 26.
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