Mrs. Lillie "Mama Smith" Mae Thomas Smith

Mrs. Lillie Mae (Thomas) Smith was born to the late parents – Reverend Ed Thomas and the Reverend Emma (Green) Thomas in Homer, Louisiana on September 26, 1913. The family moved to Emerson, Arkansas for a short time and relocated to Hope, Arkansas in 1925.

After being wooed by George (Boots) Smith, Jr., Lillie Mae Thomas exchanged marriage vows with him on November 4, 1933.

Lillie Mae Smith joined the First Church of God of Hope, Arkansas (where her niece Jackie Smith belongs) at an early age. Both of her parents were ordained Church of God Ministers. After marrying George (Boots) Smith, Jr., she joined with her husband at the Mount Olive Baptist Church of the Phillips Settlement under the pastorate of the Reverend W. M. Brown. Later they united with the Rising Star Baptist Church of Hope, Arkansas under the pastorate of the Reverend E. N. Glover. Going back over this life as a new creature in Christ, she joined her husband, took up her cross and tried earnestly to follow the Lord Jesus Christ and set good examples for her children and others.

Mrs. Smith was a devoted Christian and among her greatest joys were worshiping her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and rendering services to her church, family and community. She held memberships in the Rising Star Baptist Church Deaconess Board and Senior Choir. She helped her husband in much of his community work that included the Hempstead County Democratic Central Committee, the Hope City Park recreation as well as the Hope Civic Improvement association. She was always active with the American Red Cross.

Lillie was hired by the Hope Public Schools, Texarkana, Arkansas Public Schools and the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council to teach students the art of quilt making under the directorship of Dr. Janis Rosenberg. According to Guest Curator Laurel Horton and Dr. Janis Rosenberg, Field Director under the National Endowment for the Arts, “The passion for quilt making is hard to articulate, for quilting is a complicated combination of skills, values, techniques, aesthetics, and knowledge gained through a tradition that spans generations across the nation.”

Through Roland L. Freeman, Dr. Electa Wiley and Dr. Jan Rosenberg, Lillie’s work has been displayed worldwide. Her work has been recognized through the National Endowment of the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Black Arts Festival and published in the Time, Newsweek, National Geographic, London Sunday Times (England) Der Stern (Germany) and Paris – Match (France). Photographs of her work can be found in the Smithsonian Institute’s Center for Folk life.

Mrs. Mary Sue Evans encouraged and Mr. J.T. Bowden, Administrator of the Employment Security Division in Hope helped Lillie to make application for the American Red Cross Nursing Program. She passed and began working at Branch’s Hospital on South Main Street in Hope, Arkansas. Once there, she took other nursing programs and Dr. Branch made sure she qualified by giving her pop quizzes on the areas tested. Most of Lillie’s nursing work, “taking vital signs, giving baths, taking temperature and caring for wounds”, was under the direction of the head nurse, Mrs. Nina Tate, R.N. Lillie was a good worker and was called on to do double shifts. In the emergency room, Lillie worked under the direction of Mrs. Daisy Atkins, R.N. and assisted her with procedures as well as routine. If needed, she could also take vital signs, temperature and other assignments by Mrs. Atkins, R.N. and/or Dr. Branch.

Mrs. Smith lived her life to the fullest. Before and after reaching 100 years old, she attended the Quilters Guild of Arlington and this time admired all the new quilts. During these last few days, her daughter, Gwendolyn, helped her to use her new computerized sewing machine and she would help her daughter with the art of cooking. She really did like and was able to use some of the thimbles that she received from Hope. She danced at her 101 birthday party. It was exciting and we are happy that it was videotaped.

Lillie Mae was preceded in death by: Her husband, George “Boots” Smith, Jr.; Her eldest son, Rev. Robert Dean “RD” Smith; Grand-daughter, Gwendolyn Roshelle Smith; Daughter-in-law, Dr. Velma Prince Smith and Son-in-law, Julius Othello Elliby.

She is survived by: Her daughter, Gwendolyn Doris (Smith) Elliby of Arlington, Texas; Daughter-in-law, Gwendolyn Smith of Bastrop, Texas; Dr. Roscoe C. Smith of Dallas, Texas; George Smith, III (Judy) and James Edward Smith (Tyrus) of Cedar Hill, Texas and Jimmie Charles Smith of Hope, Arkansas and a host of other relatives and friends.