On December 15, 1927, in Fort Bend County, a baby girl was born to Jessie and Rebecca Cole-Smith whom they named Rebecca "Missy" Smith.  She was the last child of five children.  She was delivered by her grandmother Nora Cole who was a community midwife.  Rebecca's mother passed away four days after she was born.  Her grandmother Ms. Nora Cole raised her until the age of 14 years old. She later moved to Houston, Texas to live with her Aunt Lula Robertson.

Rebecca professed her faith in Christ at an early age and was baptized at the Spring Green Missionary Baptist Church.

Rebecca's formal education began at Spring Green School in Foster Area of Texas until she moved to Houston, Texas to live with her Aunt Lula and attended and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Houston, Texas.

Rebecca worked at several jobs in Houston. She worked for the Texas State Hotel as an elevator technician for six months and later her sister Georgia was hired.  She also helped care for her niece Vernetta, whom the family called Mumsie.  Additionally, she was employed at another hotel to save money and relocated at the age of 17 to Richmond, California.  Shortly after moving to Richmond, California, Rebecca met and married the love of her life, John L. Harts Sr.

Rebecca loved the outdoors and spending time with family.  A few of her favorite hobbies was going fishing, hunting, casinos, and traveling with her children.

Rebecca is preceded in death by her father and mother, Jessie and Rebecca Smith; husband, John L. Harts Sr.; grandparents; Nora Cole and Robert Cole. Sons, Willie Lee Harts Sr., Maurice Harts, Scottie Ray Harts, and Bernard Grays; daughters, Beverly Jean, Johnnie Mae Harts, and Mona Grays; brothers, Eugene and Avern Smith, and one sister, Georgia Lee Collins, grandsons, Weldon Harts, Cordell Flucus Jr., Antiwan Northern, Frederick "Chico" Gaines and Jerry Grays Jr.; and granddaughter, Erica Shaw and Tonya Mouton.

Rebecca leaves to cherish her loving memory: daughters, Davona Harts, Collena Harts, Pamela Page (James Sr.), Ardimetrice Flucus (Cordell Sr.), Rhoda Grays, Cozyette Harts-Williams, Delphia Lancaster( Robert), and Clintania Walker (Gregory Sr.); daughter-in-law, Jeanne Harts; sons, Johnny Lee Harts Jr., and Peneric Harts (Juanita); sixty plus grandchildren; three hundred plus great grandchildren; twenty plus great great grandchildre; one sister, Gertha Johnson of Richmond, Texas; and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, great-great nieces, great-great nephews, cousins and friends.

Visitation will be held on Friday, July 12, 2019 at 11:00am with a funeral service at 1:00pm at the Pittsburg Funeral Chapel.