Please See Savannah Blair Smith. There have been more than a dozen missing flyers for her over the years and last year, I had an opportunity to speak to her about her situation. Savannah was enrolled with the Cherokee Nation. At the time of her death, she was just 16.

Savannah had messaged me when she saw one of her flyers last year. I asked her why she kept going missing and she explained to me that her father killed her mother when she was 10 and she entered into the foster system. She didn’t think anyone cared.

Of course I reached out to one of our amazing community angels, who is also an MMIP investigator. Christa was able to get Savannah the help she needed.

However, Savannah’s story stuck with me. She had been shuffled all across Oklahoma: Kiefer, Norman, Enid, Tulsa and other smaller communities. She never felt comfortable and was always on the move- looking for peace and love.

When I learned last week that she was missing again, my heart sank. She had not been entered into the missing children database or even NamUs for that matter. Hours later, I learned that her remains were discovered near Tulsa. I fought back anger and tears. This precious young lady never stood a chance. At the time of her death she had been missing for just over 3 weeks. Now 16, I pray Savannah has found the love and peace she was always searching for and could not find in Oklahoma.

I came across her obituary this morning. I learned more about the Savannah I didn’t know:

“ She enjoyed curling up with a good book, especially fantasy books. She had a soft spot in her heart for her feline friends, especially “Salem”, her constant friend and companion. There was nothing she loved more than time spent with her family or friends at the river, floating and a picnic with Grandma and her siblings. Life was not always kind and sometimes, the road grew rough. Yet true to form, Savannah had a great impact on many, many people, and never stopped trying for a better day and a brighter future. Her mother passed from this life and Savannah moved in with her Grandmother. Savannah had a beautiful smile, a sweet disposition, a loving heart and often times, a broken spirit. The constant in her life was her family and friends that held her up, and supported her when and where they could.”

Savannah tried hard to make the world a better place and to find peace.

A Service of Remembrance will be held on Friday, July 25, 2025 at 2:00pm at Reed-Culver Chapel. A Rosary will be recited for Savannah on Thursday, July 24, 2025 at Reed-Culver Funeral Home. She will be laid to rest at a later date. If you can attend please do. I know many in our community cared about Savannah and her wellbeing.

Going forward, there is a group of community advocates that will be taking up the fight. Savannah did not deserve to be ignored or treated as poorly as she was by DHS. We must do more for our foster children!