Lillie Mae (Mathis) Smith

Lillie Mae Mathis Smith, longtime resident of the Oakland Community, retired Dietician and wife of Warren H. Smith died Wednesday afternoon, August 29, 2012 at her residence. She was 85 years of age and died following an extended illness.

Services of Remembrance for Mrs. Smith were conducted at 2 P.M. Tuesday, September 4th at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Bro. Rhesa Davis of the Feathers Chapel Baptist Church officiating. Interment followed in the Fayette County Memorial Park Cemetery on Highway 64. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center — West Chapel at Oakland.

Mrs. Smith was born May 28, 1927 in the Topsy Community of Wayne County, Tennessee. She was preceded in death by her parents, David Leroy Mathis and Duffie Hickerson Mathis. She received her education in the Wayne County Public School System and was a resident of the Frayser area in Shelby County for a number of years before moving to Fayette County 40 years ago.

She was married May 20, 1950 to Warren Hugh Smith, longtime employee of the Merck Wholesale Drug Company in Memphis before his retirement, who survives. Mrs. Smith was employed as a dietician for over 25 years in area schools that included the Oakland School System for 15 years before her retirement. She was a Christian and a member of the Baptist Church and her interests in earlier years included horseback riding, gardening and fishing.

She enjoyed special times with her family and was a devoted homemaker in addition to her dietary responsibilities. She and Mr. Smith were well-known customers of the McDonald’s in Oakland, where they enjoyed the friendships and fellowship of their many friends. Her life was a living testimony to her Christian faith and love for others.

In addition to her husband of 62 years, Mrs. Smith is survived by three sons, Curtis Wayne Smith (Diane) of Atlanta, GA, Terry Lane Smith (Donna) of Somerville, Ronald Eric Smith of Oakland; her twin sister, Lillian Summers of Waynesboro, TN; eight grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

Those honored to serve as casketbearers were family members and friends.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to the church, charity or organization of the donor’s choice.