By Leslie Dean Jennings
Lillian Smith Dean, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, was the youngest child of nine children born to the union of the late Rev. and Mrs. B.H. Smith. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Benjamin Dean Jr., and her brothers, Raymond, Benjamin, H. Jr., Frederick, James, Joseph, William, Robert and Thomas Smith.
Lillian grew up in the West End neighborhood and attended Bloom and Woodward High Schools. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Cincinnati, a Master’s degree in Counseling & Guidance from Xavier University and pursued graduate work beyond the master’s at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
In 1955, Lillian was united in Holy Matrimony with Benjamin Dean, Jr. To celebrate their marriage Ben hired a pilot at Lunken Airport to provide a fun-filled ride over Cincinnati in a Piper Cub. Their union lasted for 62 years. They were blessed with one daughter Leslie Dean-Jennings.
She was an active member of Union Baptist Church, under the leadership of Dr. Orlando B. Yates where she coordinated many successful Christian activities.
During her career with the Cincinnati Public Schools system, Lillian taught at Lincoln Heights Elementary, Washburn, Stowe and Camp Washington. She served as a Counselor at Porter Jr. High and Walter Peoples Jr. High schools. She also served on many curriculum committees at both the elementary and secondary levels. She served as a supervising teacher for undergraduate students in Teacher Education, and as a consultant and field supervisor for graduate psychology interns with the University of Cincinnati.ย
Her diversified background afforded her numerous opportunities to serve the needs of the public through her affiliation with many community organizations, i.e. North Avondale Neighborhood Assoc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Cincinnati Schools Counselors’ Assoc., Charter Committee of Cincinnati as well as being a member on the Board of Trustees for the Woodward High School Alumni Association and the Xavier Alumni Association and served as President of Church Women United of Greater Cincinnati from 2003 -2005.
She leaves to cherish her precious memory and continue her legacy, her daughter Leslie Dean Jennings. ย ย ย
Services were July 14, 2025, at Spring Grove Funeral Home in Cincinnati.