Pearlie Mae Smith

On January 25, 1932, Charlie and Artesia White were blessed with the birth of their first child, Pearlie Mae White, in Demopolis, Alabama. At the age of 5 she moved to Gary, Indiana to attend Pulaski School, and later graduated from Froebel High School in 1950. After graduating high school, she attended Indiana University, Gary Campus, where she studied Business Administration. As a youth she attended Israel CME Church where she continued her fellowship into adulthood. She later joined St. Timothy Community Church where she worshipped until she relocated to Texas. In 1951 she married Joseph T. Smith, and three children were joined to this union, son, Charles Stacker, daughter, Portia Smith-Collins, and son, Joseph T. Smith, Jr. Sister Pearl was very busy in Indiana. She broke the color barrier at JC Penney by being the first African American to be hired. She then worked in politics as a receptionist at the Mayor’s office where she had the opportunity to meet Jessie Jackson and Martin Luther King, Jr. She later worked as the administrative assistant to the Chief of Police of Gary, Indiana. She was actively involved in registering Blacks to vote, assisting the NAACP and the Urban League. Sister Pearl was the Chairman of the Semanon Club, a social club that supported youth in the greater Gary area. She also had the opportunity to sponsor and support Patricia Patterson, who became the first Black Ms. Indiana, USA. Sister Pearl loved bowling and once bowled the highest women’s series in Indiana with a score of 693, just 7 points shy of bowling a 700 series. A newspaper captured this great achievement by publishing an article on her accomplishment. For her daughter’s 16th birthday party, Sister Pearl hired an up and coming musical act from Gary, Indiana to perform: the now legendary Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5. She also owned and managed Pearl’s Health Spa from 1974 to 1982, which boasted a membership over 500. The family re-located to Texas in 1982, where she worked at Lane Center for Special Education in Aldine Independent School District, receiving numerous awards for her dedication and service. In addition to bowling, her hobbies were traveling, sewing, making hats, decorating, and winning BINGO. In the early 90’s, Sister Pearl and her family joined Truevine Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of Pastor Godwin Haynes, where she continued her unwavering commitment and service to the Lord’s work.One of her prized possessions was a book her husband gave her, entitled, Stride Toward Freedom, that was signed by Martin Luther King, Jr, inside Joseph wrote, “To my darling wife, Pearlie.” Sister Pearl Smith’s favorite scripture was Psalms 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”