Mae Lillian Smith

Mae Lillian Smith was born to her loving parents, Tressie Mae Piggee (Hutchison) & Samuel Piggee on Thursday, May 12th, 1932 in Nashville, Arkansas. Being the eldest of 10 children; 7 girls and 3 boys, Mae naturally developed skills as a leader, mother, advisor, entrepreneur and devout Christian early in life that followed her throughout the rest of her days.

Mae, her parents and her first four siblings (Laura Faye, Corneliue Jo, Emma Jean & Elizabeth) spent a majority of their early years in a two room house their father built just outside of town on a 150 acre farm. As early as 6 years of age, Mae and several of her siblings were included in their father’s farming duties; working relentlessly plowing the fields, picking cotton while also raising animals such as cattle, chickens, and pigs. They grew watermelon, relish, cucumbers and particularly peaches which were specifically designated to 20 of the 150 acres on the farm. Mae & her sisters, who have always been avid roasted peanut lovers, would humorously beg their father to not sell portions of their hard earned bounty so they could eat them all to themselves. Outside of the hard work, Mae and her family enjoyed life to the fullest “back home” in Nashville. Whether taking long walks in the woods with her sisters eating fresh berries, playing games and making memories with extended family in their small town or attending church service on Sundays which sparked the beginnings of her faith in The Lord, Mae highly cherished her roots and never forgot where she came from.

In the early 1940’s just before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, there was a severe drought that brought financial hardship to many farmers in the South. In a desperate effort for income to survive and to settle a debt of $500 on their farm, Mae’s father was forced to leave his family and head West for work. After being away for a month, he decided it was best to stay a bit longer and make more money. He immediately sent for his family to join him in Marana, Arizona. Mae assisted her mother and four younger siblings throughout a difficult cross country journey through the Jim Crow South on the “All American” bus line. She often told the story of her mother and all 5 children being forced to sleep overnight in wet, cold and unsanitary bus depots waiting to transfer to a connecting bus. She also shared instances where restaurants would deny selling food to her mother traveling with her 5 small children simply because they were “black”. Through the Grace of God, Mae and her family overcame these transgressions and were soon reunited with their father after the journey.

After living and working in Arizona for approximately a year, it was decided that the family would go further west into California to pursue even more promised financial opportunities. They explored and continued to work as farmers between cities such as Edison, Yuba City, Marysville, Redding, Richmond and Oakland; picking cotton, tomatoes, potatoes, peaches, grapes, prunes and hops. Eventually, the Boggs Tract region in Stockton became the family’s home-base and would serve as the center of the Piggee family gatherings for years to come.

Mae and her family, now with five additional siblings (Samuel Jr., Charles, Charlotte, Carolyn & Douglas), quickly became acclimated to Stockton; enjoying their new & stable life in California. The entire family loved just as hard as they worked and enjoyed many great times such as Sunday dinners Tressie would make after church and Samuel driving the kids out to Dad’s Point or Big Trees for an afternoon swim or an outdoor adventure. After attending Hazelton Elementary School, Mae later graduated from Edison High School in the late 1940’s where she was a member of the original committee that selected the school colors, maroon & gold. She later went to Stockton College and attended nursing school through the early 1950’s. After completing college, she worked as a teacher’s assistant in the Stockton Unified School District and also as a licensed vocational nurse for Dameron and San Joaquin County General Hospital. During this time frame, Mae, being the attractive, youthful and strong minded woman she represented so elegantly, married 3 times. Her first marriage to J.B. Parrott in 1951 produced two children, Larry and Anthony Parrott. Her second marriage to Nathaniel O’Neal in 1961 produced two more children, Nathan and Regina O’Neal; and her last marriage to Thaddeus Smith Jr. in 1970 produced 2 children, sadly losing one child at birth, Elaine (Deceased) and Thaddeus Smith III. She was a devoted wife and loving mother while continuously sacrificing her personal needs and desires for the good of her entire family.

In the early 1970’s while working with the Stockton State Hospital, Mae decided to start working for herself; becoming one of the first African American women in Stockton to own and operate a transitional care home which she proudly named, “Mae’s Villa East”. She would continue running this business; caring for the mentally disabled and loving them as if they were her own for the next 45 years. This love, kindness and servitude stems from what Mae was known best for….her abundant and never ending love of her Savior & Lord Jesus Christ.

It was no secret “Mother Smith” was a devout christian, who truly served and loved The Lord with all of her heart, mind and soul. Ask anyone! She constantly stressed the importance of following and being obedient to God's Word; managing to always find time in her busy schedule to study and teach The Word daily. Throughout her years in Stockton, she has been affiliated as an active member of several churches such as Little Flock Baptist Church, Second Baptist Church & Trinity Community Church which was built by her father in the old Edison Villa region of Stockton. She was well known and highly admired for her ability to prepare and teach weekly Sunday School lessons effortlessly with ease and accuracy. She was a matriarch of her family, church and community; an elder and true scholar with a vast amount of radiant biblical knowledge and wisdom.

She loved being outside in her beautiful gardens and had recently won the San Joaquin County District 1 Beautiful Yards Recognition Award. Dressing up and modeling for family & friends in stylish clothing taken from her immense wardrobe was an absolute passion of hers and a delight to see her posing in grand fashion when putting on a show. Other activities that she loved such as cooking hot water cornbread, salmon croquettes, collard greens with swiss chard from her own garden or even better, baking pound cakes, red velvet cakes, and white velvet cakes was something the entire family looked forward to on many occasions. And how can we ever forget her famous homemade ice cream? Pure ecstasy.

Mae was fearless as a leader, very independent and always supportive and encouraging. Even in disagreement, her opinions & stern approach to any opposition of the truth was respected by her family and peers. She was swift to let people know what was on her mind because she truly stood & believed in what’s right. She fought a good fight even up until the very end which fittingly, she left to be with The Lord on Passover morning Sunday, April 12, 2020. Exactly one month before her 88th birthday.

Whether you knew her as “Mae”, “Mae Lillian”, “Wah Wah”, “Ms. Mamie”, “Mother Smith”, “Ma” or “Grandma”, she always reminded us with a loud voice followed by her signature laugh, “Don’t worry about me when I’m gone! I’m going to heaven to be with The Lord!” She has done just that joining her mother Tressie, her father Samuel & her sister Corneliue Jo Jones in heaven. Mae Lillian Smith will be dearly missed and will remain in all of our hearts until we all finally meet again in glory.

Those left to cherish Mae’s memories...

5 Children:

Larry J. Parrott, Anthony Ray Parrott (Coeva), Nathan Darryle O’Neal, Regina Mae O’Neal and Thaddeus “Tad” Smith III.

12 Grandchildren:

Pamela Shontá Corbin (Mike), Shawnte Livingston (Monique), Anthony Ray Parrott, Jr., Larry J. Parrott- Chambers, Monica Renee Boyd Estrada (Aaron), Marcus Anthony Boyd, Nicholas Read O’Neal (Cambria), Nathaniel Tolman O’Neal, Jamel Samuel Kelly, Cameron Allen Kelly, Natalie Nakaylia O’Neal and Makenna Xolani Smith.

13 Great Grandchildren:

Trinity Howard-Parrott, Vicente “Papas” Immanuel Perez, Arianna Renee Parrott, Natalia Evangelina Boyd, Amarie Lillian Boyd, Arielle Naveen Estrada, Arrington Giselle Corbin, Tianna Za’mya Boyd, Zanyus Anquenette Boyd, Marcus Anthony Boyd II, Aubrielle Mae O’Neal, Smith Russell O’Neal and Jones Hart O’Neal.

8 Siblings:

Laura Faye Piggee, Emma Jean Dabney, Elizabeth Ann Turner, Samuel Piggee, Charles Edward Piggee, Charlotte Laverne Adams, Carolyn Louise Turner and Douglas Wayne Piggee.

And an entire host of cousins, nieces, nephews, friends, peers and extended loved ones. We All Love You Mae.

“Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” - Matthew 25:23

Viewing:

Monday, April 20, 2020

3-7pm at Second Baptist Church 2350 E. Market St. Stockton, California 95205

Gravesite Ceremony:

Tuesday, April 21, 2020 11am-12pm at Stockton Rural Cemetery 2350 Cemetery Ln, Stockton, CA 95204