Lillie Pearl Smith

Lillie Pearl Smith, known affectionately as Lillie to friends and family left on unwavering strength and dedication when she passed away peacefully at Southeast Health Medical Center in Dothan, Alabama on June 6, 2025. Surrounded by her commitment to service, hard work and enduring the love she shared with her family, friends and community.

Lillie’s life story is one of remarkable resilience and devotion. She graduated from Rowland High School in 1966. She then went on to pursue her associate degree at Bennett college. It was there that Lillie’s heart found its counter part in Shelly Smith, who would then become her cherished husband of 56 years. Together they built a family that included their kids and spouses, grandkids, and great grands who all adored their Matriarch.  

A woman that wore many hats and had many talents started her working career at Dothan Manufacturing, where  she worked diligently for 30 years. She then went on with her nurturing hands to Westpoint Stevens where she worked for another 10 years. Lillie was the epitome of a self-made woman whose hands were as adept at nurturing the earth as they were at nurturing her family. Her words carried weight and her advice was sought after and respected by not only her children and grandchildren but also by the community.

Lillie’s spiritual foundation was as her work ethic. A God fearing woman that held many positions at Stringer Street AME Church, which included Intermediate Past President of the Missionary Society; head teacher of the church school, stewardess; senior choir and awarded life member in 2020. Her faith was as evident in her actions as it was in her life. She was definitely a woman who lived her life with grace and purpose. 

Her family is a testament to her life's works preceding her in death are her late parents: Willie Smith and Jetty Bell Smith; her late husband: Shelly; her late son; Gregory Zach Smith, and her late brother: Leo. 

Lillie’s memory will also be cherished by her son: Shelley Keith (Catrece) Smith; daughters: Angela (Kenneth) Britt, Keshia (Melvin) Gray, Mary (Roney) Goods, and Tonya (Andre) Allen; along with a beautiful brood of sixteen grandchildren: Kim, Jamar, Courtnee, Kelli, Bria, Bryan, Malcolm, Isaiah, Zachary, Gabrielle, Jada, Gavin, Rashad, Ezra, Kyle, and Kirsten and fifteen great-grandchildren, and a host nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends who all adored their matriarch; one bonus daughter: Barbara Bulger and two best friends: Rose Cunningham and Jackie Stewart and a host of nieces, nephews.

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