JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville church took time Sunday morning to honor a woman who made history—one that was only recently discovered.
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The Faust Temple Church of God in Christ celebrated Florita Smith, a member of the famous Six Triple Eight Battalion who played a pivotal role during World War II.
Inside the Faust Temple Church, a joyful noise filled the air as attendees celebrated the legacy of Florita Smith.
Dr. Norma White, the 25th International President of Alpha Kappa Alpha, reflected on the significance of Smith’s story, noting that most of her story was uncovered in the past six months.
“Most of us knew nothing about that,” White said.
Dr. White, who knew Smith during their time in the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority in Jacksonville, described her as a calm, cool, and collected person, emphasizing that this was just the beginning of her remarkable story.
“If it had not been for Senator Hill, I don’t know if any of us would’ve ever known,” Dr. White added.
Born in April 1920 in Jacksonville, Smith attended the Faust Temple Church of God in Christ before making history overseas.
She was one of over 800 African American women in the Six Triple Eight Battalion, tasked with sorting nearly 17 million pieces of delayed mail during World War II. Given a timeline of just six months, Smith and her crew completed the task in only three.
Their story gained further recognition through the 2024 film “The Six Triple Eight.”
Dr. Cynthia Smith, Florita’s daughter, shared her personal connection to her mother. “When I was a child, I knew she had been in the army, but I didn’t know very much about it,” she said. Even family members were unaware of the full extent of Smith’s contributions until recently.
Dr. Cynthia Smith, who knew her mother better than anyone in the room, described her as a servant and mentor to the Jacksonville community, eventually becoming a teacher in the Duval County School District.
“I spend a lot of time regretting that she didn’t know she was doing something wonderful when she was doing it, and I think she would love to know,” Dr. Cynthia Smith reflected.
As for the church, plans are in place to expand the library dedicated to Smith’s legacy, ensuring her story continues to inspire future generations.
