Otye Smith

SMITH, Mrs. Otye Leatha - Age 82, passed away Saturday, October 1, 2005 at her residence. Family hour 1:30PM Friday, October 7, 2005 from the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., with funeral service commencing immediately at 2PM. Bishop Roger L. Jones, Sr., officiating. Interment River Rest Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the funeral home 1:30PM Friday. Mrs. Smith will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, and may be viewed from 12Noon-8PM Thursday. Mrs. Otye Leatha Smith was born on April 16, 1923 in Tunica,Mississippi, the daughter of Wisdom and Wrennie Lou Verner. Mrs. Smith attended Public Schools in Tunica, MS where she met and married Wilbert Smith, Sr. on January 8, 1938. To this union thirteen children were born, although she mothered many others. Mrs. Smith was a former member of Jackson Memorial C.O.G.I.C. (formally known as Pilgrim Temple C.O.G.I.C.) under the late Eld. Leo Jackson. She loved her husband, children and grandchildren. Mrs. Otye Leatha Smith leaves to cherish her memory: devoted and loving husband of 67 years, Wilbert Smith, Sr.; 4 daughters, Jean (Ernest) Gonder-Carr of Flint, Diane Smith Cosse of Santa Clara, CA, Aslee Hall of Copperas Cove, TX, Vincenthia Smith of Austin, TX; 8 sons, Col. Wilbert (Lilli-Ann) Smith, Jr., Ret. USAF, of Houston, TX, Eddie (Angelean) Smith, Emmanuel (Barbara) Smith, Eugene (Beverlyn) Smith, all of Flint, Lorenzo (Jacquelyn) Smith of Southfield, MI, Nathaniel (Syble) Smith of Grand Blanc, MI, Calvin (Althea) Smith of Sugarland, TX, Alphonso (Cenina) Smith of Saline, MI; 26 grandchildren, Jennifer, Mishari, Shicara, Linnea, Tracee, Paris, Jerell, Jazz, Ryan, Taylor, Christopher, Gregory, Malicia Smith, Rhonda Hyatt, Jasonica Crawford, Eric and Cynthia Cosse, Shannon Kleckley, Nathaniel Smith, Jr., Eugene Smith, Jr., Rodney Hall, Jr., Chantel and Cyrice Hall, Keenan and Erik Lawler, E'lecia Robinson; 13 great-grandchildren; 1 great great-grandchild; brother, Matthew Verner; and brother-in-law, Allen (Revanele) Smith of Gary, IN; a host of other relatives and friends. Mrs. Otye Leatha Smith was preceded death by her son, Clarence Smith; grandchildren, Isaac Milton Cosse, Jr., Charles L. Gonder II, Kevin, Kathy, Kassandra and Keith Smith; parents, Wisdom and Wrennie Lou Verner; sister, Mattie B. Dean; 4 brothers, Mr. Grover Verner, Mr. Maceo Braxton, Jack and William Verner. The family wishes to extend special thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Strong, Mr. and Mrs. Ocie Johnson, her caregiver, Ms. Gina Lee, special niece, Dorothy (Charles) Baldwin.

Otye Smith

January 16, 1923 - October 1, 2005