Jannie Mae Smith

She was the 4th oldest of 12 children and the 2nd oldest of 4 daughters. She accepted Christ at an early age and was a member of Clio First Baptist Church. She was educated in the Clio Public School system in Alabama. She later left Alabama and moved to Florida, Saginaw, Michigan, and Los Angeles, California. While in California she attended Southwest College where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing & her designation as a Registered Nurse.

Jannie later moved to Los Vegas, Nevada where she lived for most of her life, until a few years ago when she moved to North Carolina to be near her family.

Jannie was married to Frank Strickland and later to John Smith. Even though she didn’t have children of her own, she was an awesome Aunt to her many nieces and nephews who love her and will dearly miss her.

Jannie worked for 40 years in the Medical Field. She always stressed the importance of God, education, hard work, and living by the golden rule. She was a beautiful, strong woman. Jannie was smart, quick witted, and funny also she was no nonsense. She enjoyed spending time with family and traveling. She lived cruises, casinos, and just having fun. She loved getting dressed up and going to church. She enjoyed eating at nice restaurants, going to the movies, watching the news, politics, and sports. Her favorite basketball team was the Los Angeles Lakers, Jan loved her family, and they loved her.

In addition to her parents and both husbands, Jannie was preceded in death by a sister Ozell Patterson and 7 brothers TJ, JD, John L., Jethro, Jim L., James L., and J.L. Patterson.

She leaves to mourn her memory; sisters Jean Collier, and Josephine Beacham, brother Danny L. Patterson (Aileen) also surviving are nieces, nephews, and host of other relatives and friends.

The Family will receive friends Friday, September 23, 2022 at Kirksey Funeral Home of Morganton from 430-5:30 p.m.

The Smith Family has entrusted Kirksey Funeral Home of Morganton with arrangements.