Wilma Jean Mull Smathers

With deep sorrow we announce that Wilma Jean Mull Phillips Smathers, age 89, has gone home to be with the Lord after passing away at her residence in Canton, NC on May 6, 2026. She was born in the Caney Fork community of Jackson County on March 25, 1937 as the eldest of 16 to the late Letha and Jerry Edgar Mull. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Merlin Phillips, her brothers Kenneth, Manuel, Doyle, Roy, Timmy, Dee, and her dear friend Monroe Franklin.

Wilma Jean is survived by her 5 children, Patricia, Janice, Thomas, Earl, and Sissy (aka Trish) and husband Ernie; 4 grandchildren, Mary B, Kim, Jennifer, Ashley; 6 great grandchildren, Dakota, Hunter, Madisyn, Dylan, Natalya, Jace; and 4 great great grandchildren, Nova, Kolton, Ryder, and Camden. She is also survived by her 9 siblings, Christine, Linda, Brenda, Carl, Bruce, Jerry, Jack, Eulis, and David.

Prior to losing her eyesight, Wilma Jean enjoyed gardening, canning her homegrown fruits and vegetables, crafting, and thrifting.

She always had an interesting story to tell and a home remedy for anything that ailed you. She will be remembered for her "head of lettuce" funny face, the chocolate gravy with homemade biscuits she served the morning after sleepovers with her grandchildren, her sweet tea she would bring or send over for Thanksgiving dinner, her strawberry and rhubarb pie made from what she had grown in her garden, and the best peach cobbler you could ever hope to eat made from her canned peaches. But most of all she will be remembered for being a loving, generous, strong, and independent woman who fiercely protected those around her, always offered a bite to eat no matter how much or how little she had, always offered a kind word or a prayer, always found a way to get things done, and was always the first to say "I love you".

She was a devoted follower of Christ and a deep believer in the power of prayer. She loved the Lord and her family, and she felt strongly about her love for both. She will be greatly missed on this side of heaven.

Proverbs 31:31: "Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm at Garrett Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held following at 2:00 pm at Balsam Grove Cemetery in the Caney Fork Community of Jackson County.

Pallbearers will be Gary Stepp, Eric Hickman, Tally Williams, Dylan Stepp, Dakota Rose, and Hunter Rose.

Garrett Funeral Home is caring for the family. A message of comfort may be made to the family at www.garrettfuneralsandcremations.com