Elizabeth McDowell Smiles

Elizabeth “Betty” Ann Smiles, age 91, passed away at home on Monday, January 10, 2022. She is preceded in death by her husband, Homer Smiles; parents, Hiram Brown and Louise McDowell; and brother, Brown “Ted” McDowell. She is survived by her sister, Lorene Billups; daughter, Suzanne (Paul) Barksdale; son, Mike (Rosa Lee) Smiles; grandchildren, John (Meredith) Smiles, Jennifer Plumley, Crystal Parker, Rickanne (Melissa) Parker; great-grandchildren, Audrey and Griffin Smiles, Connor and Austin Plumley, Destiny, Dallas, Jae, and Ryder Parker, and Jett Hunter. A visitation will be held on Saturday, January 15, 2022, from 10-11 a.m., with a short service to follow at 11 a.m. Burial will be at Forest Crest Cemetery. Born in Bessemer, AL at midnight on May 1, 1930, “Betty Ann” McDowell was raised with her siblings, Lorene and Ted, in many areas of the country, including Chicago to Miami, where her father worked as a master electrician. She met her husband, Homer, when they both worked at Harris Transfer Company in Birmingham. She worked for many years as a teller at Birmingham Trust National Bank. The perfect coach’s wife, she managed to gracefully raise two children, attend football games, and host after-game parties at their house in Leeds on Friday nights. Betty loved music and singing along with her favorite 1940’s artists, such as Peggy Lee and Frank Sinatra. Known to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren as Grandma, Ha-Ha, Granny, and Grandma Betty, she was beloved by everyone who knew her. She never met a stranger, and she was a great supporter of several charities, including the Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes and Family Ministries. Never really a “joiner,” she always did things her way!

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to Jill with Southern Care hospice organization. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the charity of your choice.

Pallbearers: Macy Armstrong, Dwight Blair, Alex Floyd, Ryan Floyd, Drew Parker, Ricky Parker