By Rebecca Goodman
Enquirer staff writer

WOODLAWN - Lillian Smiley watched out for people in Woodlawn.

She "meant the world to us here in the village," said Marjie Dogan, director of community services and parks and recreation for Woodlawn. "She's always been there whenever we needed anything."

Mrs. Smiley not only served as village historian and photographer, but was a volunteer for Woodlawn 50 Plus. She helped raise money for the community's needy and elderly and checked in on them, finding help with shoveling their walks or paying their heating bills.

"She called up and made sure people were doing well," said her daughter, Jacqueline Smiley of Forest Park. "She was interested in looking after everybody."

Mrs. Smiley, a retired teacher for the Princeton school district, died at her home Thursdayof an apparent heart attack. She was 75.

A native of the West End and a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, Mrs. Smiley taught grades K-6 at Woodlawn Elementary and continued working as a substitute teacher in the district after she retired in 1989.

She was the "go-to" person in her family, her daughter said.

Mrs. Smiley nurtured her cousins, nieces, nephews and neighbors and initiated and organized her family's reunion to keep everyone close.

"She always produced our black history programs," Dogan said. "She was our village photographer. Ms. Smiley was always there to take pictures and do anything that we needed. It's a great loss to the community. We do a pancake breakfast and probably she's one of the leading sellers of tickets."

Mrs. Smiley also volunteered for Meals on Wheels and her church, Evergreen Missionary Baptist.

In addition to her daughter, survivors include her husband, James Smiley Sr.; a son, James Smiley Jr. of Walnut Hills; two other daughters, Carolyn Robinson of Evendale and Gloria Smiley of Forest Park; a brother, William Anderson of Columbus; and two grandchildren.

Visitation is 10:30 a.m. Thursday followed by the funeral at noon at Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church, 702 Gholson Ave. in North Avondale. Interment will be at Oak Hills Cemetery.

Memorials: American Heart Association, 2936 Vernon Place, Cincinnati, OH 45219.