She was a child of the Great Depression, beloved daughter and sister, Rosie the Riveter, basketball player extraordinaire, wife of George Carter Smith, and mother to Judy, Jan and Ellen. These are but a few words which describe our mother Dollye. Born on November 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the Armistice, she experienced a fantastic life in her 93 years, which ended on Memorial Day, May 31, 2013. Dollye loved life and life loved her in return.
Fiercely patriotic, a flag-waving American, she married her best friend, George and their marriage lasted 44 beloved years and their love was so deep and inspired it lived on through their cherished family. Daddy went to war and she went to work in the Memphis Armory on the assembly line, building the biggest and best (for the times) the B-17 "The Flying Fortress." Dollye Smith stepped up, punched the clock and did the job formerly held by the men who were suddenly called away from their families to take new jobs in combat protecting our country . Rosie the Riveter actually lived in our house and her work lives on in the history books...and in our hearts. Ever devoted to her family which in the Carter house was defined by husband, children, and church; she was very active in her community and always honored her employers with honesty and the highest integrity.
Mom set a standard for excellence and expected no less from her friends and family. Her pride and joy shown through anytime she spoke of her beautiful daughters and "don't even get her started about the grands..." David, Katie, Carter and Maggie were great sources of love to their "Mammy." The grands shared her love of sports and "cooking with love."
When the Smith family moved to Oxford in 1956, Dollye Smith had no idea of the impact that move would have on her family. She became an "unofficial" cheerleader for the kids at University High School and also served as Girl Scout leader for a troupe of impressionable 15 year olds. She later attended the UHS Grand Reunions, was fussed over, loved on, hugged and kissed by the "kids" who had all grown up to be lovely ladies and gentlemen. Her culinary skills were renowned among all the boys who courted her daughters and sometimes the girls had to wonder if the boys were there for them or simply following their noses and bellies. A Score Never To Be Broken:
Mom's 61 points scored playing half-court women's basketball is still an unbroken record to this day! So we chant, "Way to go with that Sky-Hook, Doll! You paved the way for many women to excel!" Dollye found her beloved church family in her second home, North Oxford Baptist Church, as well as countless friends, even down to the youngest member, as she was a volunteer in the Vacation Bible School for many years.
Awaiting her arrival in our Lord's Kingdom are the love of her life George Carter Smith, her parents Felix and Belle Strickland, brother Leslie Strickland, sisters Evelyn Hawkins and Lorraine Starr, sons in law Bill Shults and Kenneth Goodman, and grandson William Carter Shults. What a coming home celebration this will be!
Visitation will be held at Wright & Ferguson, High Street, Jackson, Mississippi, on Wednesday, June 5 from 5-7 p.m. Service will be conducted by Rev. John Flynt of North Oxford Baptist Church on Thursday, June 6 at 1:00 p.m. with visitation beginning at noon.
Pallbearers include her nephews and great nephews James Lyles, Christopher Lyles, Howard Hester, Scott Chapman, David Jacquez and Michael Murphy.
Survivors include her three daughters, Judith Shute, Janice Shults and Ellen Goodman. Grandchildren and their families are David, Kathy, Lauren, Kelly and Taylor Shute. Katie, David and Lilly Clark, George Anna Andrews, Laura Claire Burbank-Stecko. Lynette Shults and James (Jamie) Carter. Mary Margaret (Maggie) Shults, Wendi Hollenbeck, Raven and Clover. Also surviving her are two sisters, Flocene Murphy and June Hester, one brother and sister-in-law Bill and Kittye Strickland and numerous nieces and nephews.
Online guestbook www.wrightferguson.com
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