Ursula Elizabeth (Smith) Dukes

Ursula E. Dukes (Smith), 47, parted this life October 28, 2016.  She was the fourth of five children, born on January 27, 1969 in Chicago, IL, the daughter of Joseph and Julia Smith.

Graduating from Niles, MI High School in 1987, she then attended Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, MI where she became a member of Zeta Phi Beta sorority inc. Gamma Delta chapter in March 1988.  She was a member of Community Missionary  Baptist Church of Elkhart. 

The family moved to Elkhart, IN in 2003.  She worked at Elkhart Community Schools transportation as a bus driver for 8 years. Prior to becoming a bus driver she was a professional nanny for many years.  Ursula loved children and made lifelong friends wherever she went.  She always put others’ needs before her own.  Her family was her life and she loved to laugh, go to movies, play Bingo, and travel.  She will forever be in our hearts.

She is preceded in death by her father Joseph Smith.  She leaves to cherish her memory her mother, Julia Smith of Elkhart, three children, Urston Smith, 22, Morgan Smith, 16, and Tony Dukes, 10, siblings Zina (Todd) Haywood of Kenosha Wisconsin, Andrea (Barry) Smith and Julian Smith of Elkhart, IN, Darwin (Nancy) Smith of Chealsea, MI, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

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