Patricia Lawrence Smith

Published 3:13 pm Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Patricia Lawrence Smith, 80, of Jackson, Mississippi passed away on Sunday, May 6, 2018.

There will be a visitation on Friday, May 11, 2018, from 5 to 7 p.m. at St. James Episcopal Church (3921 Oakridge Dr., Jackson, MS), in Fowler Hall and on Saturday, May 12, 2018, at 10 a.m. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m., also at St. James Episcopal Church in Jackson. Coleman Funeral Home of Oxford is in charge of local arrangements.

Patricia was born in Beaumont, Texas, on Dec. 30, 1937. Her family later moved to Sumner, Mississippi, where she spent many idyllic years with her beloved Sumner relatives. Upon graduating from Central High School in Jackson, she went on to attend Millsaps College where she was a member of Chi Omega Sorority and met her husband, James C. “Skip” Smith.

They made their home in Jackson, where they raised four children and spent many happy years with family and friends until relocating to Oxford in 2008.

While in Jackson, she was an active member of many social clubs, including the Jr. League of Jackson. She was a long-time member of St. James Episcopal Church where she served on the Vestry in 2003 and volunteered in the church office for many years. Patricia loved her St. James family with all of her heart. She cherished her many years there and countless memories of fellowship and fun.

She is most remembered by her family and friends for her kind and loving spirit. She loved her family vacations in Florida and Highlands, North Carolina, where she made sure to create amazing memories for her children and grandchildren. She always cared about the needs and suffering of others and gave of herself in any way she could, whether delivering meals to the elderly and ill, or sponsoring two beloved children, Frank Mugisa and Jackie Mugisa, from The Mustard Seed Babies Home in Hoima, Uganda.

Her loving and positive spirit was the guiding force throughout her life, especially as a devoted mother and friend. She never met a stranger and tried to make a positive connection with everyone who crossed her path.  She was the quintessential “people person,” and her insatiable curiosity and compassion for others were apparent in all of her endeavors and interactions.

She is also remembered for her strong sense of faith and resilience in the face of struggle. She overcame cancer twice and endured a long battle with Alzheimer’s while never forgetting or losing the ability to smile and say “I love you” to others.

She is survived by daughters, Alissa Lilly and her husband Bill of Oxford, and Tricia Maloney and husband Mark of Atlanta; sons, Carlton Smith and his wife Rebecca of Nashville and Andrew Smith and wife Lainey of Atlanta; sisters, Annette Lawrence of Sausalito, California, Charla Green and her husband Fred of Birmingham; brother, Tom Lawrence and his wife Karen of Berkeley, California; as well as, sister-in-law Kathy LaLonde and husband Wally of Las Cruces, New Mexico. She is also survived by six grandchildren, J. Carlton, Nash, Brawner, Callie, Mitchell and Hoyt; three nieces, Adrienne Hurgeton of Birmingham, Amy Fowler of Oxford, and Melissa Prunzik of Pittsburgh; three nephews, Silas Lawrence of Saugerties, New York, Simon Staples of Snoqualmie, Washington and Matthew Lawrence of Berkeley; two great-nephews; four great-nieces; and many cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, James Carlton “Skip” Smith; and parents, Charles Edward and Annette McMullen Lawrence.

The family would like to thank the wonderful staff of the Yalobusha County Nursing Home in Water Valley, for taking care of her for many years. We greatly appreciate the peace of mind knowing that she was in a safe and caring place.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. James Episcopal Church (3921 Oakridge Drive, Jackson, MS 39211 or http://www.stjamesjackson.dioms.org) or The Mustard Seed Babies Home, Hoima, Uganda(checks can be made out to The Mustard Seed Project with MSBH in the memo line and mailed to Mustard Seed Project, 1305 Merchant St., Ambridge, PA 15003).

Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall at www.colemanfueralhome.com.