Officer Sabrina Smith stands by her patrol car at Valdosta High School.

I knew who Sabrina Smith was before I actually met her. I have seen her often in passing during my husband’s basketball games at the Mildred Hunter Center. I’ve even seen her play basketball in the Mildred Hunter Center’s Women’s Basketball League, after hearing rave reviews from my husband about how good she is on the court.

I officially met Smith after I became the crime reporter for The Times. My job takes me to the Valdosta Police Department at least once a day, where I interact with several officers, including Smith.

I recently asked Smith if she would be interested in sharing her life story with me, and she quickly accepted the invitation. During our conversation, I got to learn about the many sides of Sabrina Smith, the school resource officer, pastor, basketball player, wife and mother.

Formerly Sabrina Walthour, Smith was raised in Statenville by her parents, Leon and Shirley Walthour. She has one brother and two sisters.

Smith said she appreciated her childhood because it made her the person she is now.

“My family struggled,” Smith said. “Although we weren’t dirt poor, we went through hard times. But the values my parents instilled in my siblings and me is the reason we turned out well.”

Smith, now 30, recalls several obstacles she faced growing up.

“When I was 6 months old, I was pronounced dead. Then at 14, I was molested.”

Smith refused to let these events hinder her from striving to be the best person she could be. Although she endured some adversity during her childhood, she also encountered two of the most important factors in her life during that time — her husband and basketball.

Smith met her husband, James Smith, in school. They started dating 15 years ago.

“One day he just came up to me and asked, ‘You gotta man?’ I said yes and he said, ‘You need to drop him.’ So I did, and we’ve been together ever since.”

Smith was also introduced to basketball at an early age.

“I am a basketball fanatic. There was one time in my life when playing basketball was like a second breath to me. I even slept with a basketball.”

Smith is a huge Michael Jordan fan, so she wore No. 23 when she played in high school.

“Basketball was not just a hobby for me; it was a way to get out of Statenville,” Smith said. “And when I wasn’t playing at school, I played at home. I was the only girl in my neighborhood, so the guys would let me play with them. To them, I owe much of my success in basketball.”

Smith strongly considered attending the University of Tennessee to play college basketball for the Volunteers. She later decided to “go to Gatorville” and play for the University of Florida after she was offered a scholarship.

“Before I could get there, however, another chapter of my life began.”

Smith could not accept the scholarship because she got pregnant in August 1995.

“My husband and I had already decided that we were going to get married before we found out I was pregnant,” Smith said. “So we got married on May 4, 1996. Our first son, James Smith III, was born the next day. And on June 2, I graduated from high school.”

Embracing her new role as mother and wife, Smith entered the workforce as an employee at Krystal, where she quickly advanced to shift manager. Smith eventually left Krystal to work at Dillard’s.

“I spent two years at Dillard’s. After I had my second son, Jarius, I went to Convergys, where I served as a supervisor. After working there for seven years, I realized that I had gone as far as God wanted me to go at Convergys. So I decided to go into law enforcement.”

When asked what influenced her decision to do law enforcement, Smith replied, “I don’t know. I really don’t know.”

Whatever the reason, Smith initially applied for a position at the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office.

“I had gotten hired, but they decided to review my driving record and discovered I had a heavy foot,” Smith said with a giggle. “Ultimately, I couldn’t work there because I was high risk. I was disappointed, but I figured it was just part of God’s plan.”

Smith then applied at the Valdosta Police Department and got an interview with Chief Frank Simons and Cmdr. Brian Childress, who was a captain at the time.

“I nailed the interview, and I was very upfront about the tickets I had gotten for speeding. However, when we got to the psychological evaluation process, the molestation came out.”

The fact that Smith had never gotten professional help after her molestation hindered her from getting the position.

“I knew I wanted this job, and I didn’t want anything to stop me from getting it. I eventually called the police department and spoke with Capt. Bernard Robinson, who was a lieutenant at the time, and asked him what I needed to do to get the job. He mentioned that I needed to seek professional help for the molestation.”

Smith received counseling at the South Georgia Psychiatric and Counseling Center. After several sessions, the center submitted a written letter of recommendation to the police department for Smith.

Smith went on to complete the police academy in September 2006 and then went through fast track training at the Valdosta Police Department.

“I am very grateful to Chief Frank Simons, who provided me the opportunity to work at the department,” Smith said. “Ultimately, it was his decision whether or not to hire me, and he did. Everything started through him. Hopefully, the work ethic that I have shown thus far can attest that he made the right decision.”

Smith initially became a patrol officer and was assigned to patrolling the east side of the city.

In July 2007, the Valdosta Police Department posted a position for a school resource officer. Smith was selected to take on that responsibility and began her new role during the 2007-08 school year at Valdosta High School. She worked under the late Cmdr. William “Bill” Butler.

“My job as a school resource officer is to bridge the gap between juveniles and law enforcement,” Smith said. “Ninety percent is counseling, and I prefer it that way. I’d rather talk to the students than arrest them.”

Smith gave former Valdosta City School System Superintendent Sam Allen an ample amount of credit for helping her make a smooth transition into her position as a school resource officer.

“He was very encouraging every step of the way.”

Smith said that her position seems to be the perfect fit for her.

“So many people won’t work with these kids because of the perception that VHS is a bad school with bad kids,” she said. “These are great kids. They just need someone to recognize it. I’m that person, no matter what race the students may be.”

Smith works with the students, sports teams and administration on conflict resolution and does presentations on how to avoid criminal activity, stay out of trouble and maintain good grades.

“I try to be the spark to help get them where they need to be in life,” Smith said. “I share experiences I’ve had in my life to be an example for them and show them that you can be successful no matter where you come from and what you’ve been through.”

Smith has been offered the opportunity to move to another unit at the police department since she became a school resource officer; however, she has declined.

“The kids need me, so here I am, and I’m loving every minute of it.”

Smith has even practically “adopted” three students as her own — Jamie Turner, Alan Scruggs and Lukeia Singleton.

“All of the students are like my children, but those three are my babies,” Smith said.

Along with fulfilling the duties of a devoted wife, mother and officer, Smith is a dedicated pastor. She preaches at Conquerors Deliverance Center, located at 415 W. Magnolia St., where her husband also serves as a bishop. Smith also directs the church choir, UNIFIED, plays the keyboard and is a praise team leader.

Smith became a pastor six years ago, but her journey with Christianity began much earlier.

“I was called to the Lord at a very young age, but I denied His callings several times,” Smith said. “I’ve had people prophecy that I would be a preacher, and I looked at them like, ‘Who are you talking to?’ There was a time when I didn’t want anything to do with the church at all because of how my molestation occurred. I probably would not be into the church now if it wasn’t for my husband.”

Although Smith battled with depression, she realized that it was not strong enough to succumb her.

“I had so many experiences that God brought me through, I realized that there was no other choice for me. I died at six months, was molested at 14 and got pregnant at 16. Today, I don’t regret anything that has happened because of where God has placed me now. Sometimes you really have to think back on your life to appreciate where you are. I have lost some close and important friends and family members along the way. But through it all, I decided to grab life by the horns and not give up.”

Smith affirmed that she has not had any regrets or second thoughts about becoming a pastor.

In her spare time, Smith enjoys lying in the bed and watching television, as well as singing and writing music. In August 2007, she recorded her first gospel CD entitled “No Longer.” She is working on another CD.

Despite her apparent versatility, Smith admits that she has her share of shortcomings.

“I’m good at a lot of things, but I cannot cook,” she said. “Either my husband handles dinner or we enjoy meals prepared by my mother or church members.”

Smith has an associate’s degree in criminal justice and has three more classes to complete before she obtains a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Smith also still makes time for her favorite sport, basketball. She plays in the Mildred Hunter Center’s Women’s Basketball League for the CDC Lady Warriors. She mentioned that the Lady Warriors are the back-to-back champions.

“We bring it,” Smith said. “If there is anyone who wants to step up, registration starts in June … bring it.”

Smith, a self-proclaimed daddy’s girl, is very family-oriented. She spends an ample amount of time with her husband, children, parents, siblings and two godchildren, Leon Phillips and Eden Fluker. She is proud to say that her goddaughter, Fluker, is currently a junior at Fort Valley State University on a basketball scholarship.

Smith is also close to her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Sally and Eprict Kelsaw, as well as three brothers-in-law and one sister-in-law.

“My extended family also includes the members of Conquerors Deliverance Center, my brothers and sisters at the Valdosta Police Department and all of the Valdosta City schools’ faculty and staff.”

Smith continues to meet new people and help those she can. She said that she is happy with where God has placed her and makes her decisions based on His direction.

“I love people and I love life,” she said. “I have so much more to do and wherever God leads me I will go.”