Kim Dean McManus Smith

Kimberly (Kim, don’t ever call her Kimberly, that meant she was in trouble) Dean McManus Smith, age 54 of Jacksonville, FL went home with the Lord on December 30th, 2021. Born in Concord, North Carolina Kim graduated from Central Cabarrus High School and went on to graduate from the South Carolina School of Dog Grooming. A lifelong lover of animals, she worked as a Groomer for Pet Paradise of Jacksonville at both the University and Oakleaf locations. Having never accepted the notion that anything was too late, she earned a 4-year degree in 2 ½ years from South University in Savannah, GA in Psychology in her late 40’s. After accomplishing this she discovered that she preferred the psychology of animals to humans and returned to Dog Grooming and pet care.

Kim is remembered by her family and friends as a big-hearted, stubborn, funny, and a kind woman of Irish descent (which also explained her temper aimed particularly at bad drivers in Jacksonville).

She had so many names during her lifetime. To one of her brothers, she was Kimmy-Lou, for a few friends from her youth she was Beezy, for the people she helped with psychology issues while in Savannah she was Miss Kim, to her co-workers she was Mama Kim, to her husband she was Babe and most importantly: to her children she was Mom.

Having children, like so many things in her life did not come easy for her. She was told in her 20’s that she could not have children. When she and her future husband met, fell in love, and eventually married, it delighted her that she would be stepmother to two beautiful children. So, when she did become pregnant at 35 it was considered by all (including the Doctor) as a miracle. The birth of a second child 3 years later proved that the word “never” did not apply when she wanted something.

Kim never met a stray animal that she did not try to feed and help, and never passed a thrift store that she did not want to spend time in. The back of her car always had food for a needy cat or dog and more than a few somethings that she had found at a ‘bargain” at one thrift store or another.

She is proceeded in death by her mother, Glenda Barber McManus of Concord North Carolina; her father, Ronald Lee McManus of Troy, North Carolina; her father-in-law, Benjamin R. (Smitty) Smith Jr. of Beaufort, SC; and her two most beloved companions Widget and Beadle who all greeted her at the Pearly Gated home of our Savior.

Kim is survived by her husband, Benjamin (Ben) R. Smith III; her son, Kenneth David Smith; daughter, Shelby Hope Smith all of Jacksonville, Florida; her stepdaughter Taylor Lee Little of Sumter, South Carolina; stepson, Benjamin Delaney Smith of Prosperity, South Carolina; her mother-in-law, Nancy C. Smith of Okatie, South Carolina; and by her brothers Ronald Lee McManus Jr of Troy, North Carolina and Christopher McManus of Lumberton, North Carolina.

A visitation for Kim will be held Saturday, January 8, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Hardage - Giddens Greenlawn Funeral Home and Cemetery, 4300 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32207, followed by a funeral service from 5:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests friends and family bring pet food and supply donations to the service, and the pet food and supplies will be distributed to animal rescue in memory and honor of Kim.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.GreenlawnJacksonville.com for the Smith family.