Funeral services for Mary Mildred Perry Smith, of Wesson, are Monday, Jan. 21, 2019, at 11 a.m. at Ebenezer A.M.E. Church in Brookhaven with burial at the church cemetery. Williams Mortuary in Brookhaven is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation will be Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, from 1 until 5 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mrs. Smith, 84, died Sunday, Jan. 13, 2019, at her residence. She was born Oct. 31, 1934, in Lafayette County, to Clarence Perry and Elizabeth Harwell Perry. She was a devoted member of Ebenezer A.M.E. Church where she served as YPD director, inspirational choir member, adult sunday school teacher, church secretary and usher.

She received her elementary education in Lafayette County School system and her high school credits from Oxford Public School system. She attended Rust College, Coahoma Jr. College and Jackson State College where she graduated with a major in English. She was employed as an English teacher in Jackson Public Schools, Hazlehurst Public Schools, Amite Public Schools and Lincoln County Public School systems.

She is preceded in death by her parents; and two siblings, Melvin Perry and Marvin Perry.

Survivors are her husband of 60 years, Matthew Smith, two sons, Avery (Ingrid) Smith, of Frankfurt, Germany, and Perry (Terri), Smith, of Richland, Michigan; two daughters, Letitia (Jerry) Rice, of Brookhaven and J. Floretta, of Richland, Michigan; one brother, Jessie (Liz) Perry, of Flint, Michigan; one sister, Floretta Perry, of Flint, Michigan; six grandchildren, Anthony (Kimberly) Smith, Jerry Rice Jr., and Julecia Smith, all of Brookhaven, Ajasiz (Nicholas) Melancon, of Gulfport, Mohogany Strauthers, of Clinton, and Julien Smith, of Frankfurt, Germany; two great-grandchildren, Jaxon and Amiyah Melancon, of Gulfport; three sisters-in-law, Arvie Kenan, of Gardena, California, Edna Perry, of Flint, Michigan, and Alma Smith, of Brookhaven; stepbrothers, Marvin Jones, Harvey Jones, of Oxford, and Cleophis Jones, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; stepsisters, Odessa Williams, Etta Keys and Susie Young, of Oxford; two special nieces, Cheryl Norwood, of Brookhaven, and LaTanya Stephens, of Hattiesburg; and a host of other nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.