Tara Smith Pembo

Tara Susan Smith Pembo, age 60, of Gulfport, MS, passed away on Thursday, March 30, 2023 at UMMC in Jackson, MS.

Tara was born on March 9, 1963 in New Orleans, LA to Mark Christian Smith III and Juanita “Jaye” Bérard Smith. She attended the Academy of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans and got her undergraduate degree at the University of New Orleans where she wanted to be an actress and starred in many plays. Tara then became a mother to her only child Jordan and switched her plans to become a lawyer. She attended Loyola Law School in New Orleans and received her Juris Doctorate.

Tara worked for the District Attorney Harry Connick and after that she started her own firm in New Orleans. She left her law practice, got her Real Estate License, and started selling homes built by her father, developer Mark Smith, in the newly constructed subdivision, “Woodstone”, in Mandeville, LA. She then became a professor of Real Estate and Law at Delgado Community College in New Orleans.

Tara married the late Pastor Gregory Pembo and was an exemplary pastor’s wife of the Vieux Carrie Assembly in the French Quarter. She enjoyed teaching very much and was excellent at it; but her favorite job of all was being a full-time grandmother to her two grandsons, Luke and Lane. She was known to them as “Gummy”, which was Luke’s way of saying Grammy. Tara adored those boys and taught them so much. Her love for teaching has shown in those boy’s love of books and their advanced knowledge at such a young age. Throughout her life, Tara witnessed to many people her love for Jesus and helped lead them to Jesus. Most recently she was a member of St. James Catholic Church in Gulfport where she would bring her grandsons so that they would also know Jesus.

Tara was preceded in death by her parents, Mark Christian Smith III and Juanita Bérard Smith; her husband, Pastor Gregory Pembo; and brother, Brett Thomas Smith.

Survivors include her child, Jordan Melito Levanway; grandchildren, Luke Scott Levanway and Lane Michael Levanway; and siblings, Mark Christian Smith IV and Robyn Smith Tweedy.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15^th Street, Gulfport. Friends may visit one-hour prior to service. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15^th Street, Gulfport is honored to serve the Smith family.

Because of Tara’s love for her grandchildren and Jesus, in lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to St. James Catholic Church, 366 Cowan Road, Gulfport, MS 39507.