ANNA LEE MILLS SMOTHERS

ANNA LEE MILLS SMOTHERS, a longtime resident of Memphis and mother of Jim Smothers of Oakland, a Funeral Director for Peebles died peacefully at 9:30 A.M. Thursday, Christmas morning, December 25, 2008 at her home in Memphis where she had resided for 53 years. She was 91 years of age and died following a brief illness.

Funeral services for Mrs. Smothers were conducted at 2 P.M. Saturday, December 27th at the Audubon Park Baptist Church Chapel in Memphis with Rev Don Marston, Chaplain of the Baptist Hospital Memphis Cancer Center, officiating. Interment followed in the Forest Hill-Midtown Cemetery in Memphis. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes-West Chapel of Oakland.

Mrs. Smothers was born in Crenshaw, Mississippi on April 13, 1917. She was preceded in death by her parents Thamer A. Mills and Mary Ethel Riley Mills. She was the wife of the late Frederick B. Smothers who died March 25, 1972.

Mrs. Smothers was a homemaker throughout her life and was also employed by the LeBonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis for over twenty-five years before her retirement.

A devoted Christian throughout her life, Mrs. Smothers dedicated her life to her family, her church and her friends. She participated in numerous church activities as long as health permitted that included serving as a Sunday School Teacher, Church Nursery Care Giver and a Vacation Bible School Leader.

Her ever-present smile and Christian spirit with a love for mankind endeared her to everyone who knew her.

Mrs. Smothers is survived by three children: Barbara Keen (Bobby) of Lakeland; Charles E. Smothers (Eulene) of Memphis and James H. Smothers (Carol) of Oakland, TN; her grandchildren: Patricia (Cricket) Kifer, Carrie Post, Charles (Eddie) Smothers, Jr., Richard Smothers, Greg Smothers, Mark Smothers and Mike Smothers; her great-grandchildren: Tiffany Hobbs, Amber Meek, Dana Cole, Barbara "Barbie" Cole, Ian McClould, Jeremy Smothers, Daniel Smothers, Alex Smothers, Analisa Smothers and Brett Baldwin; her great-great grandchildren, James Morris and Chris Meek, Jr. and her sister, Lexia Shearer of Independence, MS.

Those honored to serve as casketbearers were Mark Smothers, Mike Smothers, Charles "Eddie" Smothers, Greg Smothers, Richard Smothers, Ian McCloud and Jeremy Smothers.

The family request that Memorials be directed to the Audubon Park Baptist Church, 4060 Park Avenue, Memphis, TN 38111, Phone: (901) 324-5541.