Mrs. Mary Lois Hardin-Smith was born on September 5, 1927 to the late Jennie M. Greene and William S, Hardin in Bardstown, Kentucky.

Mary Lois graduated from Bardstown Training School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree from Kentucky State Teacher College(University), where she became a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

Mary Lois dedicated over 35 years of her life to the Elizabethtown Independent School System, serving both as a teacher and a school social worker. She also held the distinct honor of being the first African American- and the first African American woman- to serve in the Elizabethtown Police Department.

A pillar of Embry Chapel A.M.E. Church, Mrs Smith served faithfully as a steward emeritus since 2008. Over the years, she held many roles, including Sunday School superintendent, church board secretary, chapel choir member, member of both the steward and trustee boards. An avid fund raisor for the church she loved so much, she chaired numerous church projects with grace and dedication.

Mary Lois was a founding member of the Helping Hand Agency and served on the boards of several community organizations, including the Wesley Hilltop House, Lincoln Village Treatment Center, Ministry of Crime Prevention, Salvation Army, Regional Hearing Center and the Kentucky Food Bank. A devoted Christian who truly loved the Lord, her greatest joy came from serving others.

Her lifelong commitment to education, justice, and faith earned her numerous accolades, including Elizabethtown Education Association Community Service Award (1981-1982), Elizabethtown Rotary Club Citizen of the month(1982), for Service Above Self, Embry Chapel AME Church Lay Award(1997), Lucy Harth Smith-Atwood S. Wilson Award for Civil and Human Rights in Education (1983), Commissioned a Kentucky Colonel by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and Numerous NAACP and Salvation Army awards.

Mary Lois was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Smith , who passed away on June 16, 1988.

She leaves behind a legacy of love and faith through her family; daughter Mary Kathreen Smith; son, Derek Spalding Smith (Corina); grandsons, Christopher Lee Buckley and Noah Smith; granddaughters, Daniella Wood(Andrew) and Emma Smith; great-grandchildren, Basia Buckley, Celise Buckley and Christopher Buckley II; great-great-grandchildren, Tarfari Hart, Mikael Aguirre and Ezra Aguirre; brothers, William Hardin, Jr.(Joyce), Ronnie Hardin (Patricia) and Akili Hardin; sisters, Annette Hardaway (Demetris) and Linda Haines; as well as many cherished cousins, devoted friends, and a loving church family.

She wished to be remembered simply as one of the Lord's servants.

The funeral will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, April, 19, 2025 at Embry Chapel A.M.E. Church with Dr. Veda Stewart officiating. Burial will follow in the Elizabethtown Memorial Gardens.

Visitations after 4:00 P.M. on Friday, April 18, 2025 at Percell & Sons Funeral Home in Elizabethtown and after 9:00 A.M. Saturday at the church.