Sonya Leah Paul

Rowlett, Texas, resident Sonya Leah Paul passed away on Saturday, February 21, 2026, in Rowlett.

Born on October 9, 1965, in Ponca City, Oklahoma, Sonya was the daughter of Ronald Lee Smith Sr. and Patricia (Collins) Smith. She graduated with the Seminole High School Class of 1983 and later earned her master’s degree in education from East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma.

Guided by a deep commitment to helping young people thrive, Sonya devoted her career to education. As a counselor at Lakeview Centennial High School in Rowlett, she touched countless lives with her compassion, patience, and unwavering belief in her students. Her presence in the school community was a steady source of encouragement and kindness.

On January 18, 2003, Sonya married Prakash Paul in Seminole, Oklahoma. Together they built a life filled with love, laughter, and shared devotion to family. Sonya found joy in crafting, shopping, cooking, and spending time with those she loved—especially her dogs, who were constant companions and a great source of happiness.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Patricia Smith and Ronald Lee Smith Sr.

Sonya is survived by her husband, Prakash Paul, of Rowlett; her brother, Ronald Smith Jr., of Seminole; Tammy Potter, of Seminole; nieces Chelsea Rushing of Shawnee, Jolee Miller of Seminole, and Hannah Potter of Seminole; great‑nieces Molli, Layla, Myla, and Josie; great‑nephews Rhett, Gibson, and Brooks; along with many extended family members and friends who will miss her deeply.

Services will be held Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 10:00 A.M. at Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma, with Roger Radell officiating. The service will be available via livestream on the Swearingen Funeral Home Facebook page. Burial will follow at Little Cemetery in Seminole. Services are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home.