Mary J Smith

She was born to Gilmer and Nellie Jessee on November 13, 1928 in Miami, Florida and she had two sisters and one brother (Vi Shillington and her husband Hugh Shillington; Gilmer “Buddy” Jessee and his wife, Clara Jessee; and Catherine Young and her husband, Travis Young).

Mary attended Miami Edison High School and graduated in 1945. She went on to study at North Park College in Chicago and Bob Jones University in South Carolina, where she received a Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education. She married the late Jack Ivan Smith from Norway, Maine in 1958, who was the love of her life, and they lived together in Miami, Florida before relocating to Tamarac, Florida where they retired. They had 48 beautiful years of marriage until Jack was called Home to be with the Lord on July 11, 2006.

Mary was an elementary school teacher for almost 40 years both in public and Christian schools in the Miami area. She was very passionate about teaching, loved her students and always found the “great” in every child. Mary retired from Northwest Christian Academy in 1987 after teaching there for almost 15 years.

Mary attended Baptist churches most of her adult life but in her golden years, she attended Calvary Chapel Church in Boca Raton where she loved the Pastors and worshipped faithfully every Sunday morning. She loved reading her Bible, she was the ultimate prayer warrior, and most important she LOVED the Lord with her whole heart. Her family and friends will remember her as the BEST cook and baker on the planet, putting together large jigsaw puzzles weekly, watching her favorite game shows daily, as well as her addiction to chocolates and dessert of any kind.

Mary is survived by her two children: Susan and her husband, Phillip Clark of Boca Raton, Florida and Jimmy Ray Smith of Tamarac Florida. She also had three grandchildren: Brandy (Issac) Hill, Jimmy Ray (Marlene) Smith Jr., Jessee Ray Smith and Nicholas Boracci and five great-grandchildren.

The family would love to thank the St. Andrews Acts Life Community in Boca Raton, Florida for the last 9 years where Mary lived. The employees of this community are among the greatest people that serve those in their golden years of life and we are grateful.