Sunrise: September 15,1954 Sunset: August 20,2025
Visitation Friday August 29,2025 11 am to 7pm
Service: Saturday August 30,2025 at 11 AM New Zion Missionary Baptist Church 1505 Dansby St. Bryan Texas 77803
Born on September 15,1954 in the small loving community of Wheelock, Texas Gladys Marie Smith Pool as the fourth of eleven children to her devoted parents, Carla Mae Lockett Smith and Tommy Lee Smith. From the very beginning it was clear that Gladys was destined for a life filled with energy, purpose, and an abundance of love.
As a young woman, Gladys, moved to Houston, Texas, where she graduated from esteemed Jack Yates High School. It was during these formative years that she truly began to blossom, her personality shining brightly for all to see. Gladys was a force of nature- unapologetically outspoken, yet with a spirit so warm it could melt the toughest of hearts. She had a unique ability to be both cool and tough, radiating a positive energy that was infectious. To know Gladys was to know pure love.
Gladys’ professional life was marked by her dedication as a Facilities Manager at Texas A & M University, where she took immense pride in her work and brought her vibrant personality to the campus. But her true passions lay outside of work. Gladys had an incredible zest for life, which was reflected in her love for fashion, shopping, and traveling. She was a master of the kitchen, and her cooking was the centerpiece of her most cherished activity, spending time with her beloved family. Family gatherings were never complete without Gladys ‘s loud, joyful laughter and captivating stories.
Gladys’ faith was a steadfast anchor throughout her life. As a devoted member of New Zion Missionary Baptist Church under spiritual leadership of Dr. Sylvester Smith Jr., Gladys began a beautiful new chapter when she married Hilmon Pool. Their union was a beautiful testament to enduring love and companionship, and together they built a life full of shared joy and cherished moments.
On August 20, 2025, Gladys Marie Smith Pool departed this life, leaving behind a legacy of love that will continue to inspire all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her loving parents Carl Mae Lockett Smith and Tommy Lee Smith. She leaves to cherish her memory, her devoted husband, Hilmon Pool, her children Michael Manuel (Janie), Chamommia Manuel and Allison Sanez, and her stepchildren, Sylvia Stringfellow (Fred), Patricia Little (Mike) and Hilmon Pool Jr. (Yolanda). Her memory will also be carried on by her eight brothers and one sister; Norris (Barbara Faye), Chester Raye, C.L. (Theresa) Alma (Thomas). Rick Earl (Tyronda), Edward Glenn, Melvin (Tamara), Danny Charles, Tommy (LaTasha) and Lavon “Lil Honey Manley”; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Her legacy is not just in the family she raised or the people she touched, but in the enduring lesson that life, when lived with passion and love, is beautiful and unforgettable journey.