Haygood community raises money, honors 65-year-old Virginia Beach woman killed in armed robbery

A community of neighbors, friends, church family, and even strangers gathered at Haygood Shopping Center on Monday night to honor the memory of a 65-year-old woman killed during a robbery earlier this month.

People gathered in the parking lot of the gas station where Annie May Smith was killed as Reverend Beth Givens of Haygood Methodist Church led the community in a moment of silence beside Smith’s husband of 46 years, Steven John Smith, and their grandchildren.

Up to this point, Smith’s husband hadn’t spoken to the media. He said he brushed most of them aside, but Steven Smith told The Pilot there’s one emotion he’s been unable to shake of since the loss of his wife.

“Hug them more,” Steven Smith said. “Don’t stay mad at them, hug them more.”

Annie May Smith was fatally shot during an armed robbery at the Harris Teeter gas station on Dec. 13. Police arrested two brothers and charged them with the crime days later.

Smith is survived by her husband, their two daughters, and five grandchildren.

Brandon Stokes, the owner of Haygood Skating Center, said Smith’s daughter reached out to him via Facebook after he and other business owners announced they wanted donate to the family and host this memorial.

“I just wanted to do something to wrap our arms around this family,” Stokes told The Pilot.

Stokes grew up in the neighborhood behind Sentara Independence. As a nearly life-long resident, Stokes said he wanted to show the Smith family that Haygood will always support them. Together, Stokes and other business owners have raised approximately $7,000 dollars to donate to the family’s memorial fund, Stokes said.

“When something tragic like this happens, there are people at the family’s door for two weeks and then they’re gone,” Stokes said. “We wanted to let the family here today know that Haygood Shopping Center is here forever.”

Among the people there to support the Smith family was Kevin Kelly, Smith’s neighbor of three years. Kelly said he was shocked to hear about her death. He said she was “a great woman, a good neighbor, a religious person. My heart goes out to the family.”

Michelle Morrin, a friend to Smith’s daughter in high school, who said Smith was always remember her as “full of life.”

Gwen Newman, a software developer who worked with Smith’s husband, said she was surprised by the support from a community who hadn’t know Annie May Smith until now.

“This was just awesome,” Newman told The Pilot. “It’s just great so see so many people come out support Steven and his family.”

Givens said after the ceremony she was moved by the family’s courage and the support from the community.

“I’m thrilled by how many people are here,” Givens told The Pilot. “It’s been a mission of our church to engrain ourselves more into the community and I can see the progress we’ve made here.”

A funeral for Annie May Smith is scheduled for this Wednesday, 11 a.m. at Providence Mennonite Church in Virginia Beach. The family has set up a memorial fund on GoFundMe that is still accepting donations.

Lyndon German, frederick.german@virginiamedia.com