Ginger Maire Smith

Obituary For Ginger Maire Smith

Services were held for Dr. Ginger Marie Smith, 74, at Greater Mt. Olive Baptist Church on Saturday, December 7, 2024, with Rev. Tony McBride Sr., officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Dr. Ginger Marie Smith was born on August 2,1950, to the late Genevieve Lewis Thomas and James Thomas of Monticello, Mississippi. She departed this life at home on Sunday, November 24, 2024.

Ginger accepted Christ early in life at Monticello First Baptist Church in Monticello, Mississippi. She remained faithful to First Baptist until she moved to Hattiesburg, where she joined Sweet Pilgrim Baptist Church and was a devoted member. After moving to Jackson, Mississippi, she with Greater Mt. Olive Baptist Church. As a child of God, she attended church services, taught Sunday School, was Chairman of the Education Ministry, and was a member of the Missionary Ministry.

She attended McCullough High School in Monticello, Mississippi and graduated from Rowan High School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Education from Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi; a Master's Degree of Science from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi; and a Doctor of Education Degree from Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi.

Ginger united in marriage to the late Terry Lee Smith, Sr. to this union two children were born: Terry Lee Smith, Jr. and Robert L. Smith.

Her teaching career began in Ellisville, Mississippi at Ellisville State School. Her work experiences included Physical Education at Lumberton High School in Lumberton, Mississippi; Special Education teacher in the Hattiesburg Public Schools System in Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Director, Teacher Education Preparation Program Hinds Community College, Utica Campus, Utica, Mississippi; Special Education Teacher in the Jackson Public Schools Jackson, Mississippi, and Coordinator of Education, Henley Young Juvenile Justice Center, Jackson, Mississippi. See hot a passion for teaching and worked to enlighten the children who were entrusted to her so they could become productive citizens.

As a strong community leader, she received numerous awards and recognitions for her services to her community. She was a member of the following organizations: Department of Human Services Gender Bias Advisory Committee; Parents for Public Schools Task Force;

National Family for the Advancement of Minorities with Disabilities, Washington D.C.;State NAACP Education Committee; Board of Trustees Hinds Community College, Mississippi; Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee; Mississippi Vocational Rehabilitation Advisory Board and Mississippi State Advisory Committee for Special Education (all appointed by the Governor); Federal Relations Committee Member; American Association for Community Colleges (AACT), Washington, D.C. and Mental Health Task Force (Appointed by Congressman Ronnie Shows).

Ginger was a kind and caring person, and she will be deeply missed by her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Genevieve L. Thomas and James H.Thomas; her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Lewis; her uncles Edgar Jr., Robert L. and Silas Lewis; her aunts Edna Wells and Dorothy Lewis; her cousin, Silas Lewis Jr. and her sister Amanda LeFlore.

She leaves to cherish her memories: her sons, Terry Lee Smith, Jr. and Robert L. Smith of Jackson, Mississippi; three grandchildren, Titus Smith, Sy'Nia and Arieyana Smith; tWO sisters: Linda John and Shirley (Arthur) Mays of Jackson, Mississippi; two aunts, Erlexia Johnson of Dayton, Ohio and Betty White of Tampa, Florida, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.