By Alaina Denean Deshazo

The Selma Times-Journal

Smith Florists closed up shop for the last time Friday after serving the city for more than 60 years.

Owner Tonya Chestnut said closing the store was a bittersweet moment for her as she closes the door to the only thing she’s ever known, and opens another for something new.

“It’s bittersweet because growing up, this was all I knew. When I was born, my parents had this business and even growing up as a child, this was my first job,” Chestnut said. “This was the first job for my children. And even during the summer my father would hire his nieces and nephews to come and work.”

Chestnut’s parents, Sanford and Ernestine Smith, took over the business from her great-aunt in 1955, and it was eventually passed down to Chestnut after her parents passing.

“I’m just grateful to God and I thank God for my parents that had the vision and the insight and the faith to start a business in 1955,” Chestnut said.

“At the end of the day, I’m very grateful to my parents, because most people my age during that era of time, when African Americans didn’t really own businesses, I know that it was a blessing for me to be able to inherit a business and carry it on. It was just a pleasure to be able to serve up until this time after their death.”

Chestnut said she is leaving the florist business to focus more on her ministry with her husband Coley Chestnut, pastor at Fresh Anointing House of Worship, and to spend time with her three grandchildren on the way.

“This is something that was part of my family for several generations, but at the same time, I have to walk in my divine purpose and I know that God is leading me to focus more on ministry and then as an upcoming grandmother, I want to be there for my grandkids,” Chestnut said. “It’s a happy and sad moment.”

Chestnut said it’s because of her customers that she has been able to keep the business going and flourishing and she could never thank them enough for putting their trust in her in their happy and sad times.

“There was no way I could just walk away without really saying thank you to our customers because we have generations of customers,” Chestnut said. “We’re just real grateful.”