Gennove Smith Obituary
We announce the death of Gennove Smith (Kankakee, Illinois), who passed away on September 24, 2026, at the age of 70. Gennove will be remembered by family members, friends, and others whose lives were connected in meaningful ways. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of Gennove Smith to pay them a last tribute.
She was predeceased by: her parents, Jessie Barry and Lillie Barry of Kankakee, Illinois; her daughter Rakeya Smith of Kankakee, Illinois; her siblings, Marvin Barry of Houston, Texas and Patricia Ann Smith of Kankakee, Illinois; her grandparents, Daszell and Corrine Smith of Kankakee, Illinois; her aunts, Gladys Lawrence of Kankakee, Ora Love of Kankakee, Annie Tucker of Kankakee, Queen Barry of Dayton, Ohio and Mary Jones of Dayton, Ohio; her great-aunts, Johnnie Mae Tucker of Kankakee, Illinois, Ollie Mae Cummings of Kankakee, Illinois and Dorothy Davis of Kankakee, Illinois; and her cousins, Lee Andre Hughes of Kankakee, Illinois., Reverend Ricky Love of Kankakee, Illinois. and Jeanette Tucker of Kankakee, Illinois..
She is survived by: her daughter Breia Barry-White of Kankakee, Illinois; her siblings, Brenda Barry of Atlanta, Ramona Brown of Kankakee, Paula Barry, Cassandra Barry (William Victor Batts) of Jonesboro, Georgia and Bobby Barry of Augusta, Georgia; her aunt Ozella Holeman of Chicago, Illinois.; her nieces, Chelsia, Summer Barry of Jonesboro, Kaliyah Smith of Minneapolis and Arianna Norals of Washington, D. C.; her cousins, Georgia Lucado of Chicago, Doris Rice, Mary Gant of Kankakee, Bridget, Sonda Lawrence of Bourbonnais and Janet McKnight of Kankakee, Illinois; her godchildren, Tereatha Staples (Stan), Arnita Dowdy, Jo Ethel Thomas, Rita Carson, Irene Wills (David), Melinda Dowdy, Maurice Shelburn (Bobby) and Edwin Shelburn of Aurora, Colorado; and her close friend Bertha Collins of Kankakee, Illinois. She is also survived by relatives and friends.
A wake will be held on Friday, October 9th 2026 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Jones Funeral Home (1055 N Schuyler Ave, Kankakee, IL 60901). Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 10th 2026 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at the Second Baptist Church (717 N Wildwood Ave, Kankakee, IL 60901). A funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 10th 2026 at 10:00 AM at the same location.
