Mary was born September 19, 1936 in Fayette County, Alabama and grew up in the Hubbertville community. After graduation from Hubbertville High School in 1953, she attended college for one year in Nashville, Tennessee at David Lipscomb College. After that year, she moved to Birmingham, Alabama and resided there and in surrounding cities for the rest of her life.
Shortly after arriving in Birmingham, Mary met Joe Collins Smith, and they were married on January 26, 1955. They had been married for 58 years when Joe passed away on June 9, 2013. She is also preceded in death by her parents, Floyd Pierce and Hassie McCaleb Hollingsworth, and by a brother, Tommy Hollingsworth.
Mary is survived by four sons, Joe (Karen) Smith of Birmingham, Mike (Pam) Smith of Franklin, Tennessee, Tim (Bev) Smith of Huntsville, Alabama, and Wes Smith of Birmingham; 13 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; a sister, Jean Evans of Northport, Alabama; three sisters-in-law, Karen Hollingsworth of Fayette, Alabama, Sharon Arnold of Valdosta, Georgia, and Dorothy Smith of Mobile, Alabama; and two special cousins, Kim (Andrew) Batson of St. Joseph, Michigan, and Michelle (Danny) Ingle of Atlanta, Georgia. She also leaves behind numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Mary retired from the Jefferson County Board of Education, where she worked for most of her employment as a Library Aide at Bottenfield Junior High School in Adamsville, Alabama. She also worked in retail for both Pizitz and Parisian department stores.
At the time of her death, Mary was a member of Oak Mountain Church of Christ, where she had attended for almost 30 years. Her priorities were evident throughout her life – faith, family, friends and food, demonstrated by her love for cooking for others.
Mary's family will greet friends Friday, May 3, 2024 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ridout's Southern Heritage Funeral Home, Pelham, Alabama, followed by A Celebration of Life Service at 1 p.m. at Ridout's Southern Heritage, 475 Cahaba Valley Road, Pelham, AL 35124. Burial will be at Millport City Cemetery in Millport, Alabama.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.6