Daisy Evans Smith, affectionately known as “Mrs. Daisy,” 92, passed away on Nov. 2, 2019, at King’s Daughters Medical Center after a brief illness.

Visitation will be on Monday, Nov. 11, 2019, from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Brookhaven. Graveside services will be held Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019, in Rosehill Cemetery at 10 a.m. in Brookhaven.

Daisy was born on April 23, 1927, in Jackson, Mississippi, to Walter and Bertilde Bacot Evans. She grew up in Brookhaven where she graduated from Brookhaven High School in 1944. She played baritone in the high school band. Daisy attended Mississippi State College in Starkville, where she was a member of the “famous maroon band,” where she played baritone, also. She received a B.S. degree in business administration from Mississippi State University in 1948, and possessed one of the last “lifetime” teaching certificates.

Throughout her 92 years in Lincoln County, she was a staple in the community. The first job she ever had was in the State Land Office in Jackson where she worked for several years after finishing at Mississippi State University. After marrying, having children, and moving back to Brookhaven, she taught school. Mrs. Smith was employed by the Lincoln County School District for many years. She taught high school typing, bookkeeping, shorthand and history. Her fondest memories of her career were of teaching at Enterprise High School. She always referred to the people she taught while there as  “the kids down at Enterprise.” She even talked about them a week or so ago. Her final tenure with the Lincoln County School District was in 2009, as a substitute teacher.

She was a familiar face at her father’s BBQ restaurant. Years after he sold the restaurant, she bought it and ran it for several years. The “Little Pigs” was located at the corner of North Second and East Court streets.  In the ’70s, she was also a Justice of the Peace in Lincoln County for one term. She actually performed two marriages during her time as JP.

“MawMaw” thoroughly enjoyed when her grandson, Justin, would take her to lunch in Brookhaven. She enjoyed seeing familiar faces which usually was followed by a story that involved light humor. She was proud to live in Brookhaven and enjoyed following the Brookhaven Police Department and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office via her scanner. She loved her Mississippi State Bulldogs and New Orleans Saints and watched every game she could on TV.

Mrs. Smith’s favorite hobby was crochet. She crocheted all the time even up until the time she got sick. She has made “a million” afghans through the years and given them to many, many people. Even though she crocheted more than anything, she also enjoyed any type of handwork and sewing.

Mrs. Daisy enjoyed the company of her neighbors on Catherine Street. The family would like to publicly thank William and Felicia Selmon and family, Robbie Nettles and Sandra Bledsoe for the relationship shared with her. We would also like to thank them for watching out for her all the years she lived there. People like you very seldom come around and we are thankful. We would also like to thank her longtime friend Melissa MacLeod for always checking on her and taking care of her.

Mrs. Smith is preceded in death by her parents as well as a sister, Becky Cummings, and nephew, Webb Kennedy.

She is survived by her daughter Belinda and husband Bob of Cleveland, Mississippi; son, Walter ‘Bubba’ Smith of Brookhaven; four grandchildren, Wes Willliford and wife, Sarah of Cleveland; Sam and Madison Williford of Cleveland; and Justin Smith of Bogue Chitto. She also leaves two great-grandchildren, Ryder and Chase Williford of Cleveland. She has one nephew, David Kennedy and his wife Cindy of Brookhaven.

The family would especially like to thank the staff at Diversicare Nursing Home as well as Haven Hall Nursing Center for the exceptional care during the past couple recovering from a broken hip.

The family requests that memorials be given to the charity of your choice.