Mary Young Davis Smith

Obituary For Mary Young Davis Smith

The family of Mrs. Mary Young Davis Smith, 80, sadly announce her passing on September 19, 2021. Services will be announced when arrangements are complete.

Well since you are reading this then that means my days in the land of the living have come to an end. I have lived a good life, but in the words of Langston Hughes “life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.” Nevertheless, I have been truly blessed beyond measure. Well I guess I will share a little bit about me. My parents, Young Davis and Hattie Mae Roberson Davis, welcomed me into the world on August 25, 1941, in hustling and bustling city of Talladega. They named me Mary Young Davis. I know Young is not a typical name you would see for someone’s first or middle name, but my father had to throw his name in there somehow to mix things up.

I spent the early years of life in and around Talladega. My parents made Mt. Cleveland Missionary Baptist Church their church home, so naturally I became a member. Now, I love the Lord, but I cuss a little. Don’t judge me! I also believe in the Lord’s word and I know that we are suppose to work for the up building of his kingdom, but when it came to handing out jobs in the church I was granted the title of professional pew warmer. When it came time for me to start school, I attended Hannah J. Mallory in Alpine and then continued at Talladega County Training School. Unfortunately, I did not complete my last year at TCTS. Instead on November 4, 1958, I became the mother of a beautiful baby girl that I name Druscilla Dyphain Davis. I know, I know, I got carried away with the letter D, but that is ok because she was mine. I was not going to let me becoming a mother at a young age prevent me from completing my education, so I worked to obtain my GED.

I decided it was time for a change of scenery, so I moved to Albion, Michigan making it my home for a number of years. During my time there, I worked in various manufacturing jobs and became a glass blower. I discovered I had a passion for caring for others that lead me to become child advocate and a caregiver. In 1970, I married Rubin Smith and we have shared 51 years together. I was ready to go home, so in the early 2000s Rubin and I moved to my hometown of Talladega. I continued to work at places like Colony House and various other places until I decided it was time for me to retire. I made sure to enjoy myself and spend time with my family and friends. A lady should always look her best and I did so with my ruby red lipstick. A lady also likes her cars, so my favorite was my Cadillac Escalade EXT. I had that truck on 24 inch rims. It was pretty. I would make sure I looked good and rode around Talladega in my truck. I would often times go pick up my niece, Molly, and we frequented First House Chinese Restaurant. Now the elders would always say the best sense was bought sense and boy did I pay for it. I treated that Escalade like it was an off road vehicle instead of one that was considered of luxury. I bought my sense that day Molly and I went to eat at First House and I did not take my time pulling in and out of the parking lot. As you would have it my negligence busted the rims. I just feel that since it was labeled as a “truck” then it should be driven like one.

One of the most difficult days of my life was December 9, 2014. This was the day that the Lord called my only child, Druscilla, home to eternity. A mother should not have to bury her child, but the Lord knew what was best. The beauty of it all is that she was waiting to greet me on September 19, 2021, when it was my turn to make that journey to eternity. My parents, Young and Hattie; my brother, Lloyd; and my sister, Emma were all there waiting for me as well. I hated leaving my husband, Rubin behind. Losing my baby girl was hard, but she left me a loving and caring granddaughter, Deqieva (Demetrius Wells) Davis, and two great grandchildren, Dustani Davis and Daquan Davis. I also leave two siblings, Shirley A. Turner and Larry Garrett; and three sisters-in-law, Minnie Smith, Rachel Lewis and Gwen (James) Deese. My siblings and their children left me three of their special children, Margaret “Molly” Davis, Eugene Davis and Daniel “Thickums” Davis; and a host of other nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.