ELKHART — Courtney Jo Smith, 11, of Elkhart, passed away Saturday, Aug. 27, 2017 at 9:19 pm at the corner of Beardsley and Cassopolis Streets in Elkhart from injuries sustained after being struck by an automobile . Her niece Dolly J. Smith and half-brother Shawn M. Wolcott also perished in the same incident.

She was born in Elkhart on Nov. 22, 2005 to William M. "Bill" Smith and Sunshine L. "Sunny" Combs. They survive her at home.

Also surviving is a sister, Elizabeth "Lizzy" Smith and a brother (who is also recovering from the same incident) Bradley Smith, both at home. Sister-in-law Marquis "Markie" Thomas Burke, the mother of Dolly, survives in Elkhart along with a host of loving aunts, uncles and cousins.

The pastors and congregation of the Northside Church of the Nazarene (53569 CR 7, Elkhart) and the staff of Billings Funeral Home of Elkhart are honored to host a memorial celebration of life for Courtney and her niece Dolly on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017 at 2:00 pm with a visitation beginning there at 11:00 am. Pastors Tim and Gary Sheets will officiate along with representatives from the Elkhart Police Department's Chaplain's Office. In accordance with the family's wishes, cremation has taken place.

Courtney was to complete 6th grade this year at Beardsley Elementary School in Elkhart. She had just begun to play the violin as she aspired to become part of the school's orchestra. Her creative talents also lended to her artistic ability as well as she loved to draw and paint. She enjoyed helping others and spending time with her family and friends, including best friends Emily, Kylee and Tayla

The family recognizes the great sense of loss felt by the community due to the nature of this tragedy and invites all who have been affected to come and remember, praise God and to celebrate the lives lived.

Memorial donations may be given to the family's "Go Fund Me" page on Facebook or placed in the memorial box that will be present Friday at the service.

Romans 8:28 : "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God; to them that are called according to his purpose."