Janeen Googe Smith

Janeen Googe Smith, musician and piano teacher, was born in Booneville, Mississippi on October 2, 1942. She was a lifelong resident of Jackson, Tennessee and was very active in the musical community. Janeen was the daughter of the late Luna Nell Morton Googe, (also a well-known musician), and the late George Walker Googe, Jr., a railroad official on the Gulf Mobile and Ohio and Illinois Central Gulf Railroads.

She graduated from Jackson High School in 1960. She graduated from Union University Summa cum laude (with highest honors) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1964 and a Bachelor of Music in 1968. She was a member of Chi Omega sorority at Union, also serving as Treasurer for Sigma Alpha Iota women’s music fraternity and President of Alpha Psi Omega drama fraternity. Also while at Union, she was selected for Alpha Chi scholastic society and Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities, and was a member of the Union University Singers and Symphonic Band. She married Ward H. Smith in 1966.

Janeen performed as a percussionist with the Jackson Symphony Orchestra from 1964 through 2013. She taught piano in Jackson for many years. Her first job was as secretary to Brooks Shaw at Kelly Foods. She performed in the Corinth and Tupelo Symphonies, and also was a solo pianist and keyboardist at many events in the Jackson area. One of her many talents was playing numerous audience requests for the crowds. She and her mother Nell often performed accordion and piano duets. Janeen was known for her vibrant personality, contagious smile and good sense of humor. She enjoyed dressing for the occasion, whether it was Flag Day, Christmas or Easter.

She was an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Jackson Symphony League and Skyline Drive Church of Christ.

Janeen was the driving force in the Googe family musical group, the Three Generations, arranging the music and playing keyboard. She began her musical performance at an early age with her mother Nell and grandmother Luna Lee Morton in a group called the “family trio.” Under her leadership, the Googe family performed historical programs featuring Tennessee music, as well as performing at events and venues honoring the rich railroad heritage of her family and this region.

Although she was stricken with ALS, she persevered through her pain to play keyboard for the events at her 50th Anniversary Reunion at Union University this year.

Surviving her are her husband Ward H. Smith; son Morton W. Smith, wife Amy and grandson Noah; daughter Janell Charmaine Smith; brother George Morton Googe and wife Rebecca;

niece Wendy Lee Williams, husband Blake and expected son due August 4th; and nephew Charles Walker Googe and wife Kelsey.

The family requests that donations be directed in Janeen's memory to Skyline Church of Christ, 1024 Skyline Dr., Jackson, TN 38301