Elsa Eloisa Smith

Elsa Eloisa Smith, of Chester, VA, died June 4th, 2026 at home of natural causes. Born Elsa Eloisa Eslava Del Carpio on January 15, 1951 in Chiclayo, Peru to Carlos Alberto Eslava Ubillus and Felipi Del Carpio Chavarry, she is survived by her sister, Carmen Velasquez and family; her daughters, Amanda Hengle and Alison Velazquez; six grandchildren, Kalum Griffin, Kelby Hengle, Kameron Velazquez, Kinsley Hengle, Kasey Velazquez, and Kami Hengle; Chris Tukas, her partner of seventeen years; and her friend and caregiver; Charlie James.

She was a Girl Scout until the age of eighteen and received a Bachelor of Science from Lambeth College in Jackson, TN. She married her ex-husband, Philip E. Smith in 1974. After college, she worked for Maybelline, Cannon, Inc., and Circuit City. She worked for Nottoway County, registering migrant children, taught English as a second language, was a substitute teacher, and tutored Spanish. She was a pillar of the Latino business community, started the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 2000, helped with the annual Que Pasa Festival, and had several small businesses of her own.

In 2015 Elsa worked hard to become a naturalized citizen. Yet she still loved to share her Peruvian culture and knowledge; she even donated some of her own artifacts to the Valentine Museum in 2017. She served on the board of the Metropolitan Business League, worked for the Richmond Convention Center, was an "I am Tourism" Ambassador for Richmond Region Tourism, and worked in the Robinson House at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

Memorial Services will be held Saturday, July 11, 2026 at 10:30 AM at Stoney Point Presbyterian Church, located at 2330 Buford Road, Bon Air, VA 23235. A Life Celebration reception will follow from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm at Quiubo Parce Colombian Restaurant located at 11045 Hull Street Road, Midlothian, VA 23112. For flower purchases, please visit TJ Arreglos Florist, located at 7106 Hull Street Rd, N. Chesterfield, VA 23235 or call 804-276-4230. Or in lieu of flowers, please go online to contribute to: goFundMe.com/f/elsasmith