Elizabeth Neel Smith

Elizabeth Howard Neel Smith died Sunday, April 15, 2012. She was born in Detroit, MI, November 25, 1921, to Margaret Simpson Hitchcock Neel and Cloyd Smith Neel of Gallatin, TN. She grew up in Gallatin, TN, and married John Holmes Smith III of New Orleans, LA, a Presbyterian minister. They served as missionaries to the Belgian Congo in Africa in the late 1940’s. She had 4 children: Margaret Smith Collins, Montgomery, AL, Mildred Barbara Smith (deceased as child in Africa), premature infant son (deceased in Africa), and John Holmes Smith IV, Mobile, AL; four grandchildren: Jennifer Smith Rusie (Michael), Nashville, TN, Andrew Oliver Smith (Misti), Nashville, TN, James Edward Collins and William Smith Collins, both of Montgomery, AL; and 2 great grandchildren: Henry ‘Hank’ Alexander Rusie and Alexandra (Alex) Elizabeth Rusie, both of Nashville, TN. Mrs. Smith was educated at Montreat Junior College for Girls, Montreat, NC, Peabody College (Vanderbilt University), Nashville, TN, University of Alabama (M.A.), Tuscaloosa, AL and the University of South Alabama (M.A.), Mobile. She studied violin, piano and organ and loved attending symphonies and operas, and at one time played with the Meridian Symphony Orchestra, Meridian, MS. She thoroughly enjoyed attending plays at the Alabama Shakespeare Theater in Montgomery, AL and other regional theaters. Mrs. Smith also was active in the Friends of the Library and enjoyed the Mystic Order of the Jazz Obsessed (MOJO), as well as the Scottish Society. She taught English in two public schools: Demopolis, AL, and Montgomery, AL; and three private schools: in Bell Buckle, TN, Pensacola, FL, and at J.T. Wright School for Girls and UMS Wright in Mobile for 20 years, serving as a librarian the last few years before her retirement. Mrs. Smith served the Presbyterian Church in many ways over the years, most recently as a member of Central Presbyterian Church where she was an Elder Emerita, having served on the Session several times, including as Clerk. Visitation will be at Radney Funeral Home on Dauphin St., 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, April 20, and 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 21, at Central Presbyterian Church. The Witness to the Resurrection Service will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 21, at Central Presbyterian Church with interment to follow at Pinecrest Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Andrew Smith, William Collins, Tucker Shields, Roger Wettlaufer, Al Brown and Nick Bouler. The family would like to thank the staffs of Allen Memorial Home, Cogburn Midtown, Mid South Home Health (Priscilla Gosten & Karla Forbes) for their wonderful care of Mrs. Smith. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to Central Presbyterian Church, 1260 Dauphin St., Mobile, AL 36604.