Imogene (Smith) Newsome

Imogene Newsome (née Smith), age 96, formerly of Hammond, IN, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 14, 2025 at her home in Crown Point, IN.

She is survived by daughter Colleen Hickman and son Darin Newsome of Crown Point; granddaughters Jody Lipcovich and Casey Lipcovich of Highland, IN; siblings Barbara (late Calvin) Pendley of Hermitage, TN, Betty (late Ernest) Johnson of Lorain, OH, Donald (Dolores) Smith of North Judson, IN, and Beulah (late Sheldon) Tucker of Griffith, IN; sister-in-law Janie Smith of Whitesburg, KY; many nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by husband Elmer Gene Newsome; daughter Sandra Lipcovich and son Randall Newsome; parents Reuben L. and Bertha P. (née Massey) Smith; siblings Monford Smith, Marjorie Lucas, Raymond Smith, George Smith, and William Smith; sons-in-law Donald Hickman and Joseph Lipcovich; former son-in-law Daniel Lynch.

Imogene was born a coalminer’s daughter – the fifth of 10 children – in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky before the start of the Great Depression. She left school at age 12 to help with her young siblings and household after her three oldest brothers left to serve in WWII and her father sought work in Indianapolis and Detroit. 

She was a devoted Christian mother, fierce Scrabble player, and lifelong supporter of the American Red Cross (after the agency aided her family during the Ohio River flood of 1937). She was a longtime member of State Street Baptist Church in Hammond and, later, member of Cornerstone Baptist in Hammond.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2025 from 9:00-10:30 AM at Hillside Funeral Home, 8941 Kleinman Road (one block south of Ridge Road), Highland, IN.

Funeral service will immediately follow at 10:30 AM, with Rev. Scott Ferry officiating. Interment at Elmwood Cemetery, Hammond will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Salvation Army Gary-Merrillville, 4800 Harrison St., Gary, IN 46408.

For additional information, please contact Hillside Funeral Home & Cremation Center Konnie Kuiper - Michael Kuiper-Vass by calling us at 219-838-0800 or visiting us at www.hillsidefhcares.com

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