Mother found dead near Alabama waterfall was doing what she loved, son says
A missing 51-year-old woman, whose body was found near a waterfall in Alabama, died doing what she loved, her son said.
The woman — identified as Regina Smith — was found dead May 27 after hours of searching Noccalula Falls in Gadsden, where she was last seen, the city of Gadsden said in a May 28 post on Facebook and the Montgomery Advertiser reported.
“We want to send our deepest condolences to the family who has lost a loved one this week,” city officials said in the post.
Rescuers responded to a call regarding Smith at about 8 p.m. Sunday, May 25, and initiated a search, Noccalula Falls Park and Campground officials said in a May 26 news release.
Storms in the area put the search on pause between 1:30 and 6 a.m. May 26, then crews resumed until Smith was found the next day, officials said.
According to officials, Smith was last seen by her family on a raft in Black Creek.
Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford said during a news conference that the fire chief told him Smith was found in the water, AL.com reported.
“We just notified the family. Very tough situation,” Ford said, according to the outlet.
Family mourns mother
Dawson Smith, Regina Smith’s son, told WBMA their family visited Noccalula Falls several times a year.
“My mom, her entire life was water,” Smith told the outlet. “... Just the sound and peace for her was a big deal.”
The last thing Smith’s family heard her say before she floated away was “This is the best day of my life,” Smith told the outlet.
In a May 27 Facebook post, Smith said he knew his mom was at peace.
“She passed away in the water, which is where we could always find her,” he said.
Gadsden is about a 60-mile drive northeast from Birmingham.
This story was originally published May 28, 2025 at 4:56 PM with the headline "Mother found dead near Alabama waterfall was doing what she loved, son says."
