Mary Ella Smith Lancaster

age 89, resident of

Columbus, died on Thursday,

December 13, 2012 at her

residence. Mrs. Lancaster

was the daughter of the

late Henry Lake Smith

and Florence Lamb Smith.

Born March 30, 1923 in

Bolton, Mississippi, she

was a homemaker and

a lifelong Methodist and

had an associate’s degree

in music. She was an

accomplished pianist and

won several state piano

performance contests.

She also used her musical

talents at the church as a

choir member and to teach

music to children. Mrs.

Lancaster is survived by

her husband of 66 years,

Jim Lancaster of Columbus;

one daughter, Emily Stone

and her husband Jim of

Columbus; one son, Lindsay

Lancaster and his wife

Elaine of Griffin, Georgia;

four grandchildren, Matthew

Stone of Marietta, Georgia,

Katie Stone of Columbus,

Evan Lancaster and his wife

Kati of Mobile, Alabama, and

Brent Lancaster and his wife

Betsy of St. Louis, Missouri;

one great-grandson, Raybon

Lancaster of Mobile,

Alabama; other relatives and

friends. Funeral services

are scheduled at the

Chapel of Striffler-Hamby

Mortuary, 4071 Macon

Road, Columbus on Monday,

December 17, 2012, 3 p.m.

with Chaplain Dan McMinn

officiating. The family

will receive friends at the

funeral home one hour prior

to the service on Monday,

December 17, 2012 from

2-3 p.m. Private interment

is scheduled at Fort

Mitchell National Cemetery,

Fort Mitchell, Alabama

on Tuesday, December

18, 2012. In lieu of

flowers, the family requests

contributions be made to

Columbus Hospice at www.

columbushospice.com.

Condolences may be offered

at www.shcolumbus.com.