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Celebrating the Beautiful Life of\u00a0Celeste Regine Hogan-Smith<\/p>\nCelebrating the Beautiful Life of\u00a0Celeste Regine Hogan-Smith<\/p>\n
Sunrise: November 28, 1962 ~ Sunset: July 11, 2026<\/p>\n
With profound love, deep sorrow, and immense gratitude for a life so beautifully lived, we celebrate the life and legacy of Celeste Regine Hogan-Smith, who peacefully received her heavenly wings on the morning of July 11, 2026, at the age of 63, with the love of her life and devoted husband, Dr. Carnel L. Smith, faithfully by her side.<\/p>\n
Born on November 28, 1962, in Canton, Ohio, to LaVaughn Hogan and the late George Ellis Hogan Jr., Celeste entered this world as a radiant light, destined to touch countless lives. Her mother lovingly named her after a beautiful piece of jewelry she admired, and throughout her life, Celeste truly embodied that name\u2014a precious gem whose brilliance illuminated every room she entered.<\/p>\n
To know Celeste was to know unconditional love, unwavering loyalty, boundless generosity, and extraordinary compassion. She possessed a magnetic spirit, a contagious laugh, and a heart large enough to embrace everyone, fortunate enough to cross her path. Whether she was serving her community, supporting a friend in need, advocating for families, or celebrating life’s milestones with those she loved, Celeste gave her whole heart. She wore her many titles proudly\u2014Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister, Aunty, Safta, Niece, Godmother, Mentor, Advocate, and Dear Friend\u2014and fulfilled each role with grace, dedication, and unconditional love.<\/p>\n
A proud graduate of Timken High School’s Class of 1981, Celeste demonstrated courage and curiosity from an early age. As a Canton Rotary Foreign Exchange Student, she courageously traveled to Brazil, where she spent a year immersing herself in the language, culture, traditions, and beauty of Brazilian life while becoming fluent in Portuguese. The experience reflected the adventurous spirit that would define her life\u2014fearless, open-hearted, and eager to embrace the world and its people.<\/p>\n
Celeste furthered her education at Spring Arbor University in Michigan, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Family Life Education and a Master’s degree in Counseling. Her passion for helping others led her to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a licensed State of Ohio Bail Bond Agent, expanding her ability to advocate for and serve those facing life’s greatest challenges.<\/p>\n
For more than four decades, Celeste dedicated her professional life to healthcare, counseling, family services, and community advocacy. Her remarkable career included service with St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, Positive Choices, Healthy Connections, Help Me Grow, Hope for Families, Toledo Lucas County Commission on Minority Health, where she served as Director, and Health Partners of Western Ohio, where she served as Regional Director. Most recently, alongside her dear friend and business partner Tina Butts, Celeste was a Creator, Developer, Partner, COO, and Lead Licensed Professional Counselor at My Turning Point Behavioral Health Services. Affectionately known as “The Warden,” she balanced firmness with compassion, challenging others to become their best selves while ensuring they always felt seen, heard, and loved.<\/p>\n
Celeste’s commitment to her community was simply unmatched. She was a tireless champion for health equity, education, youth development, and family wellness. Her advocacy for the March of Dimes became one of her life’s most meaningful missions. She fought passionately for maternal and infant health, racial equity, and improved outcomes for families across Northwest Ohio. Her voice, leadership, and unwavering determination changed lives and inspired others to serve with the same level of excellence and compassion.<\/p>\n
A proud member and supporter of numerous organizations, Celeste poured herself into community service through the Maumee Bay Women’s Club, Coffee and Conversations Women’s Group, The Movement and countless fundraising, mentoring, and volunteer efforts. She served as a Scott High School Bowling Coach, founded the Scott High School Football Parent Group, and organized meals and support for student athletes and teams. She also proudly participated as Primetime Diva #62, celebrating Black American culture through music, dance, fellowship, and joy.<\/p>\n
While her professional accomplishments were extraordinary, nothing brought Celeste greater pride than her family.<\/p>\n
Celeste met and married the love of her life, Dr. Carnel Lorenzo Smith, and together they shared a beautiful marriage rooted in friendship, faith, laughter, mutual admiration, and unwavering devotion. They recently celebrated 19 years of marriage on June 23, 2026, and their love story remains a beautiful testament to partnership and commitment.<\/p>\n
She was immensely proud of her two beloved children. Her cherished daughter, Arielle M. Stanley of Houston, Texas, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, reflected her mother’s compassion, resilience, intelligence, and dedication to helping others. Her beloved son, Carnel Lorenzo Smith II (“Champ”), a student at North Carolina A&T State University, pursuing a degree in IT and Engineering, was the joy of her heart and one of her proudest accomplishments.<\/p>\n
As a daughter, Celeste lovingly cared for her mother, LaVaughn Hogan, ensuring she was surrounded by comfort, dignity, and love. As a sister, she shared an extraordinary bond with her younger sister, Jill Hogan. Though Celeste proudly assumed the role of “big sister boss,” their relationship was built on endless laughter, fierce loyalty, and unconditional love. Though not a brother by blood, Robert Caldwell Sr. \u201cAli\u201d was a brother to Celeste in every way that mattered. She loved him deeply and could always depend on him for anything. She carried a special bond in the family as the first born Niece to Uncle Bobby DuBose (Tina) of Orlando, Florida; Aunt Joanne Hogan-McPherson of Massillon, OH; Aunt Norma Freeman of Tampa, Florida; and Aunt Marie DuBose of Canton, OH; they all had a major impact in her life as they supported and loved on her deeply. Celeste made us laugh abundantly; she made us cry tears of joy and made our hearts so proud of the dynamic woman she became.<\/p>\n
Beyond all her accomplishments, Celeste knew how to celebrate life. She found joy in the simple and beautiful things, whipping up her delicious meals for many to enjoy, she loved sunshine on her face, sand beneath her feet, ocean waves rolling onto shore, and the laughter of family and friends gathered together, enjoying loved ones just sitting on the porch in conversation with the sound of soft windchimes in her ear. The beach was her happy place. She loved traveling, making memories, sharing stories, and creating the perfect cocktail for any occasion. Her warmth, hospitality, and vibrant spirit made everyone feel welcome. She truly lived life with enthusiasm, gratitude, and an unmatched zest for happiness.<\/p>\n
Celeste was preceded in death by her beloved father, George Ellis Hogan Jr., and her loving sister-in-law, Angela Smith.<\/p>\n
She leaves to cherish her memory and celebrate her remarkable legacy: her devoted husband, Dr. Carnel Lorenzo Smith; adored daughter, Arielle M. Stanley (Devon) of Houston, Texas; loving son, Carnel Lorenzo Smith II (“Champ”); two treasured granddaughters, Janiah and Lamaya Stanley; beloved mother, LaVaughn Hogan; mother-in-love Rosa Smith, mother-in-love Vickie Hogan; father-in-love, Curly Bills (Diane); beloved baby sister, Jill Hogan (Kelvin Jackson) Jonesboro, AR; sisters-in-love Jacqueline Leachman and Mona Bills; brothers-in-love, Willie Smith, Andre Bills, Bruce Bills, Audric Bills Dayton, Ohio, and Antonio Bills (Valerie) of Washington, D.C.; loved like a son, Tillman Gibbs; loved godson, Blake Thomas (Skyler Martinez); loved goddaughters, Rakaiya Phillips and Janiyah Adams;<\/p>\n
She is also lovingly remembered by her cherished sister-friend and business partner, Tina Butts, along with her special nieces and nephews Steve Jones, Carmella Glover (Eddy), Selfie Hicks, Aja Showers (Jeremiah), Anthony Leachman Jr., Joshua Smith, Jacob Smith, Willie Smith, Charisma Smith, Terrance Bennett, Malaysia Warren, Makayla Smith, Kennedy Woods and a host of extended family members, godchildren, friends, colleagues, community partners, and countless individuals whose lives were forever enriched by her love.<\/p>\n
Though our hearts are broken by her absence, we take comfort in knowing that Celeste lived a life of extraordinary purpose. Her legacy is not measured merely by years, accomplishments, or titles, but by the thousands of lives she inspired, encouraged, uplifted, and transformed. Her smile will be missed. Her laughter will be remembered. Her love will endure.<\/p>\n
And though she has left this earthly shore, we imagine Celeste exactly where she belongs\u2014beneath endless sunshine, near peaceful waters, surrounded by love, raising a perfectly crafted cocktail, and reminding us all to live fully, love deeply, and never stop serving others.<\/p>\n
Well done, great and faithful servant.<\/p>\n
Your beautiful spirit and light will shine forever!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Celebrating the Beautiful Life of\u00a0Celeste Regine Hogan-Smith Sunrise: November 28, 1962 ~ Sunset: July 11, 2026 With profound love, deep sorrow, and immense gratitude for a life so beautifully lived, we celebrate the life and legacy of Celeste Regine Hogan-Smith, who peacefully received her heavenly wings on the morning of July 11, 2026, at the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":20147,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[250],"tags":[],"wf_post_folders":[357],"class_list":["post-20146","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20146","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20146"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20146\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20148,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20146\/revisions\/20148"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20147"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20146"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20146"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20146"},{"taxonomy":"wf_post_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_post_folders?post=20146"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}