Lillie Rose Smith

Lillie R. Smith was born to Sam and Ola Neal August 25, 1923 in Gibson, Georgia approximately 150 miles from Atlanta, Georgia. She attended the local schools in her community.
She met and married George Smith in 1947 who had just finished his tour of duty in the Navy. They had three children, Julia Carter (Ronald – deceased), Brenda Srisawasdi (Howard Woods), and Rita Rachel.
Lillie and George moved from Georgia to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1951 where they remained, but went back to visit family and friends yearly in Atlanta. She was a homemaker and part-time domestic worker to earn extra money, but quit a few years later.
She enjoyed going to the air shows at Wright Patterson AFB, riding the bus downtown to go shopping. She was also a quiet activist, taking part in the MLK walk every year, no matter how cold. Another thing she enjoyed was singing. She volunteered for charitable organizations.
What was most important to her was her relationship with God. Mom was an usher at Southern Baptist church. After moving to a new neighborhood, Jerriel Baptist church was home for many years, there she joined the Senior Choir. After the church reorganized, they moved their membership to Christ Memorial until the death of her husband. She joined Tryed Stone Baptist church in 1999 where her daughters and brother, Olen Neal belonged. She always read and studied the Bible and believed. It was her faith that kept her this long. Even in the nursing home she sang praises to God. When the visiting churches came to her nursing home, the staff went looking for her because they knew this is what she enjoyed most.
Lillie Rose Smith was preceded in death by her parents, her husband George Smith; sisters, Beatrice Gilbert and Georgia Neal; brothers Olen Neal and James Braswell. Lillie also leaves to mourn her nieces and nephews in Atlanta. She has 5 grandchildren, Billy, Ted, Rose, Rhonda and Lauressa. Great grandmother to 17 children and great, great grandmother of 11.