Sara P. Smith, of Fairfield, Texas, went to be with the Lord on Monday, May 4, 2026. She was 93 years old.
Sara was born on September 21, 1932, in Heidenheimer, Texas to Robert Franklin Pearson, Sr. and his wife, Leona Lavonia Pearson. She was the third of four children. Sara grew up on a farm in Heidenheimer, Texas.
She displayed musical talent at a very young age and began taking piano lessons at about the age of three. Her first recital was shortly thereafter.
She attended Academy School in Academy, Texas, where she graduated as Salutatorian of the Class of 1949. She played basketball in high school and studied Piano at Mary Hardin-Baylor College during her last two years.
Sara received her Bachelor of Music in Piano with minors in Voice and Music Education from Mary Hardin-Baylor College in Belton, Texas in 1953.
While she was in college, she sang in the “Choraliers,” a group that traveled around the country. Upon graduation, she accepted the position of Church Secretary and Director of the Children’s Choir Program at First Baptist Church in Gatesville, Texas.
She then enrolled in Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, where she pursued a Master of Sacred Music degree in choral conduction.
While at Westminster Choir College, she met Edwin L. Wirtz, whom she married on August 27, 1955. After their marriage, they moved to the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area, where she taught music in the public school.
She and her husband subsequently moved to Arizona, New Jersey and then Massachusetts, where they raised their three children, Kevin Lewis Wirtz, Cynthia Kay Wirtz and Christopher Karl Wirtz.
She was a member of Carlisle Congregational Church in Carlisle, Massachusetts, where she sang in the choir and was involved in the Children’s Choir.
Sara taught private piano lessons while her children were young and later worked as a layout artist and typesetter at a printing company.
She also directed music at Elliott Presbyterian Church in Lowell, Massachusetts, where she contributed to its ministry to Cambodian refugees.
In 1986 she relocated to Fairfield, Texas, where she met her second husband, Wesley G. Smith. They were married on November 26, 1987.
In Fairfield, she taught first grade and middle school music and served for a time as the Choir Director for First United Methodist Church in Fairfield.
She and her husband were members of First Baptist Church of Fairfield, where she held various roles, including Children’s Music Coordinator, Children’s Camp Counselor and, at one-point, Interim Adult Choir Director, while also singing in the choir.
Sara reconnected with her classmates at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor upon her return to Texas, and became actively involved with her alma mater, serving as a Trustee for three terms. She greatly enjoyed attending the annual Easter Pageant and football games, as well as Department of Music concerts, guest lectures and other events at the university.
In 2005 she was recognized as a “Distinguished Musician” and inducted into the Gilewicz Hall of Fame at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, as the 27th Inductee.
She considered this quite an honor, as she was the last piano student of Dr. Gilewicz.
Sara continued to teach piano and voice and to lead a Children’s Vocal Ensemble well into her eighties.
Sara accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at a young age and spent her life serving Him with her musical gifts and many other talents.
She had a special aptitude for connecting with children and she impacted the lives of many. Her greatest joy was to share the gospel with others, especially children.
In addition to her musical abilities, she was an avid seamstress and photographer.
She made many of her children’s clothes when they were young. She enjoyed gardening and being outdoors.
She and Wes raised cattle on ranch land in the Fairfield area.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her eldest son, and her three brothers, Robert Franklin Pearson, Jr., William Edward Pearson, and Henry Alexander Pearson.
She is survived by her daughter, Cynthia K. Lancaster, and her husband, Keith, of Spring, Texas, her son, Christopher K. Wirtz, and his wife Patsy, of Streetman, Texas, her step-son, John W. Smith, of Teague, Texas, nieces and nephews, and numerous step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren on both sides of the family. She will be deeply missed.
Visitation will be 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Round Prairie Baptist Church with a Celebration of Life to begin at 2:00 pm.
Burial will follow at Fairfield Cemetery.
The family would like to thank the staff at Fairfield Nursing and Rehabilitation for the excellent care they provided during her time there and Solaris Hospice for their end-of-life care.
Memorials may be made in her memory to Round Prairie Baptist Church or First Baptist Church Streetman.
Online guest book available www.griffin-roughton.com
Arrangements by Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home, Fairfield.
