Passed away July 11, 2025. She was born in Birmingham, Alabama, December 31, 1934. She is predeceased by her mother Jennie Lee Higdon Rodgers and her father, William Aubrey Rodgers, her husband Wilburn E. “Red” Smith, her second husband Charles Matthews and her brother, Richard Neil Rodgers.
She is survived by her sons, Aubrey E. “Gene” Smith(Melissa), Hoover, Alabama, and Bruce Alan Smith(Robin), Pensacola, Florida, her sister-in-laws Carolyn Smith and Gelene Matthews, grandchildren Allison Payne (Nick), Jim Smith (Mallory), Emily Rateike (Cliff), Bradley Smith, Bella Bridges (Ben), 8 great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.
Sissy was an English teacher at Rudd Middle School and a member of Christ Church Birmingham. She was an excellent cook and loved preparing holiday meals for her family. She enjoyed the time she and Wilburn spent at their cabin on Smith Lake. Sissy also loved spending time with family at the beach. In her later years she traveled the world with Charles.
Grave side services are scheduled for Tuesday, July 15, 2025 and will start at Elmwood Chapel at 10:00 am and proceed to Elmwood Cemetary for internment. The family asks that in lieu of flowers a donation be made to Alabama Baptist Children's Homes & Family Ministries
1404 16th Ave SE, Decatur, AL
35601.
