Obituary of Mary Vernice Smith

Mother Mary Vernice Smith was the second child of eight born July 1, 1930 in Tunica, Mississippi to Sheddrick and Sarah Martin. The children are: Rose (deceased), Mary (deceased), William, Josephine, Anne, Robert, Willean and Jimmy Lee.

She was united in marriage to Floyd B. Smith in West Helena, Arkansas in 1949 and to this union nine children were born; Floyd B., Jr, Milton Ray, twins Dornell and Cornell , Vivian Delores, James Anthony, Angela Marie, Kenneth Ray and Timothy Jerome.

She received Christ in Chicago, Ill under Elder Washington and then moved to Kalamazoo where she was a founding member of the Prayer Garden Church of God in Christ from 1958 to 1975.  She then became a member of the St. James Church of God in Christ in 1975 under the late Supt. Levarn Smith and under Pastor John Arthur Smith until she died.  She served as church mother and a Prayer and Bible Band President for over 50 years and in Grace District as the President of the Mothers board for many years.  She was very faithful in her duties and loved going to church and prayer. She was ALWAYS at church, though she never drove.  She always supported her Pastor, Elder John A. Smith, in everything and would do anything he asked her to do.  She will be greatly missed. She retired from Kalamazoo Public School System as a Daycare Paraprofessional after 25 years

“I’m Climbing Higher Mountains” 

She loved to garden, growing her own vegetables and cooking them to perfection. At almost any time, you could find Mother Mary watching Wheel of Fortune, Family Feud, The Animal Discovery Channel and any cooking channel. She was famous for her famous sweet potato pies, greens and fried chicken. She loved her family, and had her sense of humor until she was called Home. She was a very kind and generous woman, who would do whatever she could to help those in need. She was a faithful cheerleader of the St. James Basketball Team, and loved going to Martin Speedway to watch and support her friend who raced cars. Her love extended well beyond her family members.

She was preceded in death by her husband Elder Floyd in 1984 and two sons, Cornell and Kenneth. She leaves to cherish her memory; two daughters, Vivian D. Smith, Angela M. (Rodney) Mitchell, of Kalamazoo; five sons, Floyd B. (Charlotte) of Atlanta, GA, Milton R. (Patricia), Dornell, James of Caledonia, Michigan, and Timothy J. (Teresa) Smith, of Kalamazoo, a host of grandchildren,  great and great-great grandchildren, three sisters, Josephine Alexander, Anne Early and Willean Davis, all of West Helena, Arkansas; three brothers, William Martin of Detroit, Michigan, Robert (Mary) and Jimmy Lee (Bonnie) Martin of West Helena, Arkansas; one aunt, Ruby Thompson of Detroit and one uncle, John Smith of Phoenix Arizona; many nieces and nephews, cousins, other relatives and Pastor John A. Smith, First Lady Catherine Smith and the entire St. James Church of God in Christ family.