Dorothy Jean Hendry Smith: In Memoriam

My maternal grandmother, Dorothy Jean Hendry Smith, passed away this morning at her home on Smith Hill in Liddieville, Louisiana. Her obituary follows:

Dorothy J. Smith
1935 – 2019

Funeral services for Dorothy J. Smith, 84, of Liddieville, will be held 2 pm Thursday, May 23, 2019, in Boeuf River Baptist Church, with Rev. Bruce Cardin and Rev. Kevin Goodman officiating. Interment will follow in Ogden Cemetery under the direction of Gill First National Funeral Home. Visitation will be 1pm until time of service at the church.

Dorothy was born April 9, 1935, in Winnsboro and passed from this life on May 21, 2019, at her residence in Winnsboro.

Mrs. Smith was a member of Boeuf River Baptist Church and caretaker of Ogden Cemetery. She was a hardworking wife and mother, making sure all eleven of her children were well taken care of. She enjoyed hunting and fishing with her husband.

She is preceded in death by her husband James P. Smith, Sr. and one daughter, Gwen Horne.

Survivors left to cherish her memory include her children: James Paul “Buddy” Smith, Jr. of Gilbert, Debbie Wood of Winnsboro, Brenda Cook and husband Jay of Longview, TX, Glenda Phillips of Minden, Jerry Wayne Smith, Sr. and wife Pam of Crowville, Kenneth Smith of Liddieville, Kathy Smith of Liddieville, Rodney Smith of Baskin, Roger Smith of Winnsboro, and Donald Smith and wife Angie of Liddieville; twenty grandchildren; eleven great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren; a host of other relatives and friends.

Pallbearers will be Blake Smith, Dalton Smith, Jerry Smith, Justin Smith, Tanner Smith and Tom Cook. Honorary pallbearers will be Grant Fontana and Adam Wood.

Online condolences may be made at www.gillfirstnational.com.


But there’s so much more to Mamaw that her obituary doesn’t contain.

  • She was very proud of her large family — eleven children, including three sets of twins!
  • She worked hard as the wife of a farmer, running the household and helping out whenever needed.
  • She had quite the green thumb and maintained a vegetable garden full of tomatoes, okra, beans, and other yummy foods to feed her family. Once all their children were grown, she and my Papaw continued to plant large gardens and share with her children and their families.
  • She always had a cold pitcher of Tang mixed up for Papaw, and there was always a cake or something in the cookie jar for any grandchildren who visited.
  • She passed the afternoons on the porch in her rocking chair watching cars drive by, and she usually recognized whomever stopped by the cemetery, which she could see from her house on Smith Hill.
  • As caretaker of Ogden Cemetery, she knew where everyone was buried by memory. (Maybe I get my love of cemeteries from her…?)
  • She loved word search puzzles and always had a book in-progress.
  • She hosted large Smith family gatherings every Thanksgiving and Christmas, feeding crowds of 30+ with turkey, ham, duck dressing, and all the fixings.
  • She tracked all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren’s birthdays and called in to KMAR, the local radio station, to enter all her family members in birthday cake giveaways.

Mamaw had not been in good health for quite some time, so I am comforted knowing she is no longer in pain. I hope she’s having a wonderful reunion in heaven with my Papaw and her daughter Gwen, my mother.

Dorothy & James Paul Smith with daughter Gwen,
about 1953, at Smith Hill
Dorothy Jean Hendry, about age 10
Dorothy Jean Hendry, 6th Grade
Dorothy with Her Family, Summer 1960
Dorothy with Her Family, Summer 1960
Dorothy with Her Family, Summer 1960
Jessica Horne Collins with Her Grandparents James Paul & Dorothy Smith
December 1981
Dorothy & James Paul Smith at Smith Hill, 1988
Dorothy Smith, December 1999
James Paul & Dorothy Smith, 50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration
Smith Hill, October 2001
Dorothy Smith with Great-Grandson Jonathan Collins, March 2009
Dorothy Smith with Her Great-Grandson Jeffrey Collins, July 2014
Dorothy Jean Hendry, about age 15

4 thoughts on “Dorothy Jean Hendry Smith: In Memoriam”

  1. Jessica, you got everything correct and it was like reliving every happy moment through your words. I will surely miss Mawmaw Dorothy too but I know she’s no longer in pain and in heaven with Pawpaw & your momma.

  2. This is my daughters grandmother, I am Brittany Smith Andrew’s mom. She is a very special woman and will always hold a special place in my heart and my family’s heart. She proved that woman can have a family and care for them. May God bless each one of her sons , daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren. God Thank you for blessing others with the life of Dorothy and JP Smith

    1. Liz, it’s so good to hear from you! I fondly remember all those Home Interior parties long ago that I’d attend with my mom at your mother’s house. Thank you for your kind words about Mamaw & Papaw. I got to visit briefly with Brittany and meet her adorable little girls at the funeral. I hope you are all well.

      Jessica Horne Collins

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