Queen Dennis

Queen Dennis, 98, of Des Moines, Iowa, went to be with her Lord Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at her home surrounded by her loving family. Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2025, from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. at Corinthian Baptist Church in Des Moines. Immediately following her visitation, Queen's Homegoing Celebration will begin at 1:00 p.m. with Reverend Dr. Whitfield officiating. Burial will follow in Glendale Cemetery.

Queen Esther Smith Dennis was born in Little Rock Arkansas on February 12, 1927, to parents Riley and Leola Huggins Smith. There she attended public school and would accept Christ at an early age. She became a member of Bullock Chapel CME Church of North Little Rock, AR., under the leadership of the late Pastor Henry Watkins. At age 13, Queen lost her mother to malaria. Consequently, she was raised by her father, Riley Smith, and her grandparents, Richard Huggins and Eliza Brown Huggins. Richard Huggins was born a slave (1855) and Eliza Brown was born one year after slavery ended (1865). There is some historical indication that the Browns might have been part of the Choctaw Freedmen (former slaves owned by the Choctaw Indian Nation) and had walked The Trail of Tears.

In the Old South, especially during the Great Depression, education for Blacks was not highly valued. But hard work and contributing to the family economy was. Times were hard but hard times were not unusual. Queenie, as she came to be known, left school after completing the 8th grade to work and help the family. Those lessons of sacrifice and dedication guided her entire life. Values she would later pass on to her children.

Queenie often bragged that both the Smiths and the Huggins were business minded people.They owned their own land and mostly lived off their own labor. And it didn’t hurt that they were also small-time bootleggers. They were the first black family in the area to own an automobile, a Model T Ford. She often spoke about while growing up and working in the fields, she daydreamed of becoming a movie star and of becoming a school teacher. It took time, but eventually, she did become that school teacher. And she NEVER stopped being that movie star!

During the infant stages of the civil rights movement two incidents took place that would raise her level of consciousness regarding racial equality and social justice. The struggle to desegregate Little Rock’s Central High School in September 1957 was a historic moment. It was one of the earliest challenges to the Jim Crow laws of segregation in schools and public places. Local segregationists, along with local police, attacked black students trying to enter the high school. Demonstrations by these angry crowds lasted for days. Blacks were ushered off the streets for their own safety. Even after federal troops were sent to protect the students, it still was not safe. The students eventually prevailed and the Little Rock 9, as they came to be known, were allowed to attend class. Months prior to that, the K.K.K. burned a cross on the hill behind her home. (Queenie’s son Earl, and nephew, Jimmy would be interviewed on TV the next day). Experiencing these events first hand greatly impacted her life and gave voice to her struggle against inequities.

After a few marriages and starting a family, she met and married Bob Dennis. The family would move from Arkansas, to Oklahoma, and then to Iowa, eventually settling in Des Moines. The schools were integrated and this would give her children a chance for a good education. She found a church home at Maple Street Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. George Parrish and then later Rev. Keith Ratliff. As a faithful member, she served as Assistant Superintendent, Sunday school teacher, usher, and member of the choir. Later she would join Corinthian Baptist Church under Rev. Michael Burton and Dr. Jonathan Whitfield. Queenie was an outstanding and well-known member of the Des Moines community. After working various jobs and while still raising a family, she returned to school to finish her education. It was a long road but with perseverance and dedication she proudly graduated from Drake University with a BA degree in Education. Her words “If i can do it anybody can do it” still resonates. She was involved in many community projects such as Gateway Community Center and the federally funded Model Cities program. Importantly, in 1969, she was a member of the community liaison that worked with the Des Moines School Board to implement a curriculum that resulted in the introduction of Black History being taught in area public schools. She was also a foster parent and encouraged others to get involved. She taught for many years at the Des Moines Child Guidance Center, working with children with behavioral disabilities. A job at which she excelled and truly loved. You could always tell which student was her favorite. She would say “Oh, little Ricky. I just want to pick him up, give him a big hug, and take him down to the river and drown him”. She retired from the Guidance Center but continued as a substitute teacher for several more years. She was a member of The Knights of Pythias Order of North America and a radio host on KUCB radio.

Mother Queen leaves an enduring legacy. She left a stamp on this community and beyond. She literally ran the gamut, from dining with the President (Bill Clinton’s inauguration ball) to protesting in the streets (Million Women”s March)! She was a mentor as well as an inspiration to many. She would help whomever and whenever she could while never expecting anything in return. Her home was always welcoming and she never knew a stranger. Better said, her home was always welcoming unless you got out of line. She had a “down-home” philosophy and a tremendous gift of common sense. She was the type of person that would tell you what you needed to hear and not what you wanted to hear. And if you didn't agree with her, your opinion really didn't matter anyway. You could hardly tell a Queenie story without laughing, or at least, smiling.Too many times she was approached by former students or neighborhood kids, having become young adults, who would recall their experiences with her and thank her for the support and encouragement she had shown.

In the early 2000’s Queen had an opportunity to visit the Holy Land. It was awe inspiring and truly invigorated her spirit. She visited many biblically historic sites, walking the paths that Jesus walked. From the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed the night before he was crucified, to the Sea of Galilee. It was her crowning achievement.

Queen had a personal relationship with God that was beyond question and her faith defined her as a person. She walked in His Light and in His Spirit. She taught that if you would only get down on your knees and pray, God will answer your call. She would often repeat these words,“When I pass on, I don’t want anybody being sad or crying for me. Just find the Lord, keep Him in your life, and you will see me again.”

On March 5, 2025 at the age of 98, Queen E. Dennis went to join her ancestors. She will forever live in time. Greeting her will be her parents, Riley and Leola Smith. Siblings; Joe Shepherd of Detroit, MI., Corean Curry and Clarence Smith, both of Little Rock, AR., Barbara Thornton, Clora Evelyn Hollins-Halloway, Zelma Jean Davie-Porter, and Margaret Abercrombie, all of Kansas City, MO. Children; Earl Hamilton and Hadaasha Maryum (Mary Smith) both of Des Moines, IA. and Ernest Dennis of Iowa City, IA. Grandchildren; Jannetta Yvonne Smith Washington and Robert Smith Jr; both of Des Moines, IA. She is also preceded by ex-husband Bobby Dennis and son-in-law Joseph Smith. She is survived by Siblings; James Sanders and Fannie Porter, both of Little Rock, AR., and Jacqueline Smith of Atlanta, GA. Children; Robert Smith, Rose Smith, and (Edward) Charles Smith, all of Des Moines, IA., Barbara Dennis of Minneapolis, MN., and Linda Dennis Mitchell of Dallas, TX.

She leaves six generations of grandchildren, a host of family and friends and friends that are

same as family. And a special recognition of her Aunt Love Vone Ward, of Stockton, CA.