Feb. 18, 1918 –

Sept. 21, 2011

The service for Emma Lee Smith, 93, was held Friday, Sept. 30, 2011 at Union Missionary Baptist Church in West Bainbridge with Pastor David Johnson officiating. Interment was in Jonas Lobe Cemetery, with Harvey Brown, Jeff Carter, Michael Davis, Rashad Sandridge, Travis Smith, and Fred Thompson serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Terry Carter, Algie Smith, Ellis Smith, Jr., and Willie C. Smith, Jr.

Emma Gibson was born Feb. 28, 1918 in Cottonwood, Ala. to the late Will and Willie Mae Gibson. She accepted Christ at an early age and joined Saint Paul Primitive Baptist Church in Fowlstown. Her Christian journey ended at Union Missionary Baptist Church in West Bainbridge, where she was a good and faithful member and served until her health failed.

Though she was not able to complete her education at an early age, she did not give up. Years later, she completed this dream by enrolling at a local school and completing numerous subjects. She worked as a cook at numerous restaurants, which resulted in her opening her own business.

She met her future husband, N.T. Smith, in Attapulgus, and they wed in 1937. To this union were born seven children.

She was a member of several organizations, including the Order of Golden Circle, Order of Eastern Star, and Bainbridge-Decatur County Civic and Progressive League. Mrs. Smith received one of the highest honors as a Foster Grandparent.

Emma was preceded in death by her husband N.T.; daughter, Mary Davis; brothers, Louis Gibson and Jimmy Gibson, Sr.; sisters, Lottie Mae Washington and Bernice Brown; and grandson, Richard Grisby Jr.

Survivors include her children: Cora Grisby of Baltimore, Md., Ellis Smith Sr. of Bainbridge, George Smith (Dorothy) of Fowlstown, Janie Smith-Sandridge (Steven) of Los Angeles, Calif., John L. Smith (Dorothy) of Harker Heights, Texas, and Willie C. Smith (Mary) of Bainbridge; sisters: Mary Alice Henderson of Baltimore, Md., Bessie Lee Spencer of Houston, Texas, and Victoria Harper of West Palm Beach, Fla.; faithful sister-in-law, Grace Gibson of West Palm Beach; 21 beloved grandchildren: Alegra, Ellis Jr., Travis, Meike, Jeff, Terry, Tim, Tonya, Craig, George, Kim, Michael, Merchelle, Rashad, Keisha, Stevlyn, Andrea, Algie, Angela, Rhonda, and Willie Jr.; and a host of loving great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Guyton Bros. Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.