Mary "Chris" Christine Smith

The family will receive friends from 4:00pm until 7:00pm on Friday, March 25, 2022 at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl. The funeral service will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, March 26, 2022 at Skyway Hills Baptist Church in Pearl. Burial will take place at Edwards City Cemetery.

When asked to briefly sum up the life of Chris Smith, the word faithful came to mind as it epitomizes her very being. Early on she was faithful to her family as her mother was sickly so Chris had to help out with her younger brothers and sisters.

She was faithful to band practice in high school as she played the bass drum in her high school band in Missouri. Her father’s career was the timber business so the family moved often to follow his work. At one time, they lived on a houseboat on the Mississippi River.

Faithfulness continued to define her life as she married Bro. Joe Smith and became his helpmeet as he pastored churches and they often helped get mission churches started in different parts of the state of Mississippi. This showed that Chris had a love for people and her concern for their souls.

This love for people was further evidenced as she became involved in WMA (Women’s Missionary Auxiliary) in the churches of which she was a member. In WMA, she held every office from Bible and Tract Distributor to President. Each office to which she was elected was entered into enthusiastically and with a desire to help others.

As President of the National WMA she further showed her love for people by arranging a trip to the Philippines where she spoke many times and encouraged the missionaries and the Filipino workers.

Her faithfulness spread to the GMA (Girls Missionary Auxiliary) where she served humbly as assistant to the State GMA Director. One of her tasks in this capacity was to arrange for State GMA Retreats. This was during the time when they met at a campground where no meals were provided so she had to bring food for the entire assembly. The only way to describe this is to call it pure hard work!

She later was elected to be the Director and she insisted that no effort be spared in presenting the girls who had completed their work to progress in the Forward Steps of the GMA Program.

She continued to teach missions for the GMA’s until God called her home.

Her love for people is further evidenced by the deep interest she had in the program, “Water for Christ” which is involved in drilling wells in countries where fresh water is not available. When the Director of this program explained that the reason he began the work was when he was visiting a country and he saw a child drinking from a mud hole in the road. This registered with Chris and she became burdened for the program as she supported it sacrificially.

As she entered into the presence of the Lord, undoubtedly she heard "Well done thy good and faithful servant."

Preceding her in death is her husband, Joe Smith; parents, George Monroe Fleming and Adele Cox Fleming; brothers, George M. Fleming, Jr. and Monroe Lee Fleming; and sister, Andi "June" Baldwin.

Chris is survived by her son, Billy J. Smith, Jr. and wife Terry; grandson Philip Smith (Taylor); and sister, Emma Sweatman.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.baldwinleepearl.com for the Smith family.