We had the good fortune of connecting with Denetra Smiley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Denetra, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I started Smiley Connections LLC in January of 2023 after 2 years of losing my son and having an already support group on Facebook call Parents That Have Lost a Child/Children Support Group, and it has 263 members. This is my pride, my passion and my new family. I have connected families from all over the United States and it is still growing.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I currently work in healthcare, been in that field for about 15 years. I work for a company helping patients get referrals to specialist for processing and then approved. I am what you call the back office person, I love helping patients get the proper care they need without them having to go from person to person. Once they get me that’s it, I handle it.

I think that I’ve always been a people’s person and I like seeing and hearing people smile. The gratitude I feel knowing I helped someone. I’ve always been the family manager for my small family 😂. I took care of my parents before their deaths, my grandmother before her death and then my son. So it’s in my blood.

Smiley Connections, LLC is just that, a connection between other parents that have lost a child, trying to put smiles back on their faces along the way of their journeys.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take my bestie Tonya and Season Jamison, to a nice restaurant that served wine, good food and played nice music. I’m new to the Atlanta area, so I’m still figuring out the places. There’s one I enjoy going to, it’s called Acere Cigar Lounge in Lithia Springs. It is an adult atmosphere with great food, friendly and beautiful waitresses and nice selection of cigars. They also have live bands that come through on Saturday nights.

The Patio Social Club is also a great adult atmosphere they have hookah, cigars, great food, and very nice music.

I tend to not go to far from Acworth because it is a little travel to get back.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
So, first my son DeAndre Thompson, before he passed, he was a FIGHTER! No matter what those doctors told him in his three fight, he always had a smile on his face, as if he knew he was a child of God and the doctors didn’t know his journey was not just with the cancer, but the lives he touched while he was FIGHTING! He taught me to be patient and obedient. He made me realize that even though you fight for something, you have to set yourself up for a possible, “no.”

My other living son is one of my biggest supporters. Artise Thompson, he’s 34, no matter what, he ALWAYS GOT ME. He’s my emotional support and I tend to hang on him and love him a little harder than before. Because I have to celebrate him and let him know that I will continue to love him more now than ever. Times two lol.

My bestie of 36 years, Tonya Robinson. Listen if you have a best friend like her, you never have to worry about whether they support you in whatever you do. This lady have been in my life before my kids were born and after losing my son, she was the person I called and talked for hours, sometimes for four hours straight. I love her so much.

My sister, Tanya Thomas, I could write a complete book about the strength of this woman. My sister is not a well woman, but she stood 10 toes down with me from beginning to end. She never left my side. I love her so much

My 5 beautiful grandchildren, Alayna, Macai, Alivia, Kaydence, and Princeton. These kids are the joys of my life and I had to keep going and not give up, just to be here to see them through life, and I’m enjoying every minute.

Finally, my husband Vernado, this man is my lifetime partner. He catches me when I’m lost, confused, grieving and when I just want to quit it all. He reminds me that that’s not who I am and I have to keep going.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/smileyconnections?igshid=MzNlNGNkZWQ4Mg==

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/431518951290676/?ref=share_group_link

Image Credits
All images I took myself except the logo, that was made by Shauntel Moultrie.

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