Mrs. Fannie Mae Smith

Fannie Smith or Grandma Fannie as many knew her, was born on June 22, 1926 to the late Bernard and Lucinda Bell Norwood in Lamar, Mississippi. She married Mr. Isaac Smith Jr. This union produced three boys, two of which preceded her in death. Fannie worked as a seamstress as well as numerous other jobs in order to provide for "my boys" as she often called them. There were not many things that Ms. Fannie could not do. The strength of her character was divinely tested in 1985 when she suffered a massive stroke a month after burying her only brother Bernard, who was her shining star. Grandma Fannie has lived two lives; pre-stroke and post-stroke. Before the stroke, Grandma Fannie was a fierce woman, quick with a laugh and knew the meaning of living her life. She made all of her own clothes, shopped like she was paid to do it and her cooking was always in demand. The Grandma Fannie that most people know is the one post-stroke. This woman defined determination. She learned how to not only function with one hand, she made you forget that she only had the use of one. She could change a diaper, cook a meal, clean a house, and praise God, all with that left hand. Fannie Mae did not stop. Despite her handicap, she hung Christmas lights, babysat children and never failed to stop and ask, " Are you all right?" Fannie relocated to Hinesville, Georgia in 1996 and became a member of Mount Zion Memorial Chapel where she continued to worship and praise God. Ms. Fannie also worshiped at Bethel AME. There were many who recall Mother Fannie shopping, singing, praising and caring about others. Whether she was known from Chicago, Hinesville, or Ludowici, she will be missed. Fannie is preceded in death by her two sons Isaac and Dennis Smith. She leaves to mourn, her two daughter-in-laws Dorothy Smith of Hinesville, GA. and Bessie Mae Smith of Oak Park, Il. She is survived by her son Andre (Alice) Smith of Sauk Village, Il. Fannie also leaves to cherish her memory seven grandchildren; Darlene (Sal) of Hinesville, Ga., Raymond, Troy, and Bobbie of Chicago, Il., Kimmara, Rakim, and Andre Jr. of Sauk Village, Il., eleven great-grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, and too many honorary grandchildren to name. Most of all, her memory will be cherished by her personal champion, her daughter-in- law, the Ruth to Fannie's Naomi, Ms. Dorothy Rose Smith.i

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