Where it all began

I was born to Lafayette Jefferson, Sr. and Ima Viola Jefferson in Jefferson Texas. I spent a lot of time telling people I was a Jefferson from Jefferson. I was born on March 30, 1933 which was a Thursday. I also spent a lot of time telling everybody how many threes are in my birthday. I would usually say it like "3, 30th and 33". That always tickled me. I was 1 of 13 children born to my parents. I was the oldest of all of them. Six of my beloved siblings preceded me in death. Louise Jefferson, James Jefferson, Veria Benson, Lucille High, and Asberry "Sonny" Jefferson. Just over a week before I would be welcomed into resting in Jesus, I lost my younger brother Henry Jefferson (LeOneita). I grew up on an expansive homeplace. We had every kind of animal you could imagine and we grew every kind of fruit and vegetable that you could imagine. We had to buy very few items from the store. My days were filled with looking out for my younger siblings and helping out on our farm. Some of my fondest memories involve jumping in the creek with my siblings even though I could not swim. I never learned to swim but that didn't stop my childhood fun. We rode horses which I did not enjoy since my brothers always made my horse run. I only wanted to trot or maybe gallop. The same brothers required me to be their defender when the bully on the school bus decided to make one of them their target. I ensured he never bothered any of my brothers again. That was some of my "good trouble". One of my most favorite memories is getting to pick my own watermelon and eat just the sweetest part from the middle and throw the rest to the hogs. We also enjoyed a lot of homemade ice cream. That was good living. We were rich. That is what I told people. We had more than many could dream of and a big family full of love. My grandparents lived in the house down our road and our town was filled with family. As a teenager I decided to change my name. My uncle had selected my name but due to the spelling I did not like the way it was pronounced. One day I walked to the courthouse and changed my name all by myself. I learned early on that I could defend myself if needed. I was educated in the Jefferson public school system and I graduated from Central High School in Jefferson Texas. I would remind my family that I was a fantastic speller and that I could really run. I won awards for both spelling and track. Nobody could beat me in track. I also played basketball but I wasn't on the team. What I can also tell you about my time in school is that was the place where i became known for my long beautiful fingernails and being a defender of good causes. I maintained those fingernails for my entire life and I stood for right every time an opportunity came along. After graduating high school I went off to Wiley College in Marshall, Texas where I studied Early Childhood Education. After leaving Wiley College I remained active in lots of on-campus events and functions.

The Lady and her Lord

I accepted Christ at an early age and I grew in faith and the respect for the Lord beginning at home with my parents and at Lewis Chapel United Methodist Church in Jefferson Texas. My life's journey continued with the Lord when I moved to Marshall Texas and joined Miles Memorial CME Church where I served for more than 60 years in almost every capacity you could imagine. I sang in the choir, I regularly attended and participated in Sunday School, I was a part of the Missionary Board and I cannot remember not being an usher. Throughout those years of service I spent a lot of my time as a missionary

president and delegate for our Annual Conferences. I was also an usher President. and delegate for our District and Region. I took great joy in serving with a spirit of humbleness as well as excellence for the Lord. I was almost always at our official board meetings, I was on the kitchen committees, and I always cooked for various functions like vacation Bible school and watch night services or revivals. No one ever allowed a watch night service dinner without requesting my famous pigs feet or a pot of my famous chitterlings. I was known for many wonderful dishes but it was my baking that every body raved about. I could really bake cakes, pies and cobblers. I was honored by Miles Memorial CME Church for serving 60 continuous years in the usher ministry. I remained active in this church until 2013 when I relocated to Dallas, Texas to be closer to my children. Upon arriving in Dallas I quickly joined Concord Church. I became a faithful member until I was called home. Serving, tithing, teaching, and submitting to the Lord has always been important in my life. My own family came to know these values as my husband and I demonstrated this to our childtren.

The Lady and her Loves

Marshall is also where I married the love of my life, Hillard Smith. To our union were born 10 beautiful children. During my children's early formative years I had the privilege of being a stay-at-home mom and homemaker. Our growing family kept me very busy and I had an opportunity to perfect my cooking and baking skills. My husband and children could not get enough of my homemade biscuits. They were big, flaky and buttery. As I mentioned, my cakes, pies and cobblers were extremely popular also. Some of our favorite times were Sunday mornings when I would prepare those famous biscuits for our family breakfast. I think my kids would try to see who could eat the most biscuits every week. Once my children were little older it was time for me to join the workforce. I held a number of jobs in different capacities and enjoyed the variety that each one brought. I worked for the City Laundry in Marshall. It was there that the defender of a good cause came out again. I exercised my voice and convictions for fairness and led protest for better pay and working conditions. I too enjoyed a little "good trouble". Later I was employed by the government in the extension service of the Texas Department of Health where I taught and demonstrated to families how to prepare healthy meals and how to put emphasis on nutritious meals. I remained in that position for many years. As time went on I helped care for individuals and worked for a nursing home. I believe it was here that I truly learned how to become the caregiver my family would need. As my loving husband battled a terminal illness of which his body would eventually succumb, I had the the privilege and the knowledge of how to care for him. My children would sometimes ask if I ever thought of marrying again. I could say with certainty to them "NO. Why would I ever do that? I had a very good husband. He was the best. We had enough love for a lifetime, and I don't need anyone else." During my lifetime I enjoyed volunteering with the elderly, at the food pantry, and at the hospital.

Anyone who knows me can tell you that I loved my family and that my home was a welcoming place for gatherings. We had lots of family gatherings and our family seemed to have always been growing. I've been called a social butterfly by many people. Some say I have never met a stranger. I disagree because I tried to meet every stranger. I could strike up a conversation with anybody, anywhere and anytime. I got that from my mother I believe because she could really talk. My kids also had an ability to make great friends. Those friends often became like family. When you look at many of of our photos from our holidays, family gatherings or just everyday life, it is not unusual to find some of these additional "family" members. I was making new friends until the end.

A few of my most cherished people preceded me in death. My very handsome and beloved husband, Hillard Smith and my loving and hilarious daughter Ima Michelle Smith are two of them. I also lost three babies, Gloria, baby boy, and Hillard Jr. I also experienceed the death of my grand daughters, Dimitria Lenell Burns and La Tonya Nicole Robinson. But, GOD, allowed me more time to love on and leave to cherish my memory other children. There is Cherylnn Kay Burns (*Robert), Sandra Elaine Smith and Annas Ray Smith all of Dallas, Texas. Yvette Ursell Holland (Michael), Terrell, TX., Lekita Shera Robinson of Dallas,TX., Min. Erica Smith Buchanan (Lancaster, TX/Lafayette, LA), and Kristie Smith English of Red Oak, TX, my grandaughter whom I raised from a young age.

My life has taken me through many ups and downs but it has been a beautiful and exciting adventure. I was a 30 year breast cancer survivor. That was a difficult journey but my family and my faith helped me and my spirits stayed high. I proudly encouraged others who would find themselves in the same fight. I could tell them firsthand that every day may not be a good day but it didn't have to be a bad day and that it doesn't mean it is your last day. You have to just keep living. Just keep living became one of my favorite sayings. I think I got that from Mother also. I loved gardening. I had a green thumb. I could grow almost anything. My home was field and running over with beautiful plants and flowers. I was also known to have a garden full of lots of vegetables and fruit such as greens, tomatoes, corn, peas, okra. Another one of my loves was definitely travel. I was always ready to go somewhere, especially if it was by plane and included a nice hotel. I traveled to many parts of the world in my lifetime. I especially loved warm weather and beautiful water. I went to places such as Hawaii, New York, the Caribbean including Jamaica, Cancún and other places. I enjoyed Philadelphia, New Orleans, Atlanta and so many other places. My last trip was just over a year ago and I had an opportunity to go to Washington DC. That was one of my bucket list places because I wanted to see the African-American Museum of History and Culture. I saw that Museum and so much more. I visited the monuments, went to a musical concert, ate lots of seafood including oysters, saw the White House and the Capital and so much more. I was proud to meet people from all around the world and some of the people who work alongside one of my children who works for legislation, advocacy, access and inclusion for individuals who have developmental disabilities such as Michelle. I indeed had such an adventurous life.

The Lady and her Legacy

I'm very proud of the life I lived in front of not just my family, children and strangers but the life I lived in private. I spent a lot of time in prayer, I studied my Bible and read it regularly, I stayed in touch with my

family and friends, I served in any capacity that I could and I did so faithfully and cheerfully. I demonstrated how to live a faithful and fun filled life so everyone could see there's joy in serving the Lord and loving what you do. All of my children have professed Christ as their Lord and Savior and of that I was comforted. I was never a person who did not find value in working and serving so I was never lazy. As I got up and age and retired I enjoyed a very good life. I can truly say my family loved and spoiled me for all the years that I could remember. They have always insured I did not want for anything and they even made up things that they could do for me. Having children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren and even great great grandchildren is certainly a legacy I was proud of. When we gathered, there were so many of us, I kept asking "who was this? I had the opportunity to watch children that I taught and led in ministry become the teachers and leaders in those ministries. That's a legacy that I'm proud of. To have loved and cared for my husband and my daughter Michelle until their death is a legacy I am proud of. To have been embraced and loved on by people everywhere I went and to always be given reasons to smile is a legacy to which I am very proud.

My living legacy includes many grandchildren. Chinue Mitchell, Patrick Leon Burns (Rosalind), Patricia Deon Burns, Ishe Rhea Robertson, Catia Anoinette Robinson, Sherida Smith (Micah), Eric Edwards, Christopher Edwards, bonus grand daughter Teonni Jones (Brandon). I also have a beautiful bunch of great grandchildren. They include Essence Paviel Hamilton, Casciera Hall, Chauncey Hall, Caleb Hall, Kizmarrion Burns, Keyera Burns, Samuel Lynch III, Ladarius McCallister, Ariana McCollister, Jerrica McCollister, Desirae Walker, DiMiya Bailey, Taniah Gay, Amari Gay, Sheriah Smith, Micah Smith Jr and a bonus great grand son, Brandon Jones, Jr. My legacy does not end there. I have great great grandchildren. There is Violet Jean Strother, Jeremiah Atkinson Jr., Jermeny Atkinson, Londyn Murphy, Messiah Hart-Walker, Kali Bailey, Jaylen McCollister, and Kashius Mayberry.

I also leave to cherish my memory, siblings, Lafayette Jefferson Jr., Myrtle Sanders, Viola Murphy (Israel), Gloria Scott (Leroy), Thomas Jefferson (Michelle), and Elaine Scott (Calvin). I also have so many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

I leave for all of my family, friends, and all the world these thoughts until I see you again. Love God and live a good life. Love everyone and treat people well. Always vote in every local, state and national election. Be sure you go to Sunday School and be active in church. Just dont sit there. Don't spend too much time crying for me because I had a wonderful long life. I was almost 91 years young. I spent years telling my children, grands, great grands and great great grands to "come and give me a bite". They looked forward to my love bites on their cheeks and began to bite me back. We always got a giggle from that. I was nibbling on my family until the end. I spent many years sitting on the porch and watching the planes fly over guess where they were going, having coffee brought to my bedside every morning, eating desserts whenever I chose and reminding everybody that my cooking days, cleaning days, getting up early days, taking care of children days and work days were over. I ate in fancy restaurants and never paid the tab. I got spa days and pampering and never opened my purse. I am still known for my nails. I talked to my siblings and my children and grandchildren regularly. I flew on planes, cruised the blue seas, and ate room service and never made travel plans. I had birthday parties galore. I want you to see

the goodness of God when you look at my life. See the provision, protection, and peace of God when you look at me and my life. See what favor, blessed and joyful looks like. I was surrounded by love and cared for wonderfully. I was held and surrounded by family until the moment my Savior received me into His presence. If you think you won't pass this way one day, JUST KEEP LIVING!!