Sister Mary Louise Brown Smith was the daughter of the late Deacon Johnny B. Brown, Sr. and Mrs. Mary M. Speight Brown was born on February 6, 1950 in Blakely, Georgia.

Mary received her education at Washington High School in Early County in the class of 1968. She joined St. John Church where she accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior.

Mary’s smile and laughter were contagious, her words were encouraging, and her love was unconditional. To know Mary was to love and cherish her. Although she was challenged with health issues in her last days, her faith never wavered, and Mary continued to press onward; she was rooted and grounded in the Lord.

Mary’s career began at Newton County’s Training Center as a state employee working with special needs adults and children as an Instructor. As years went by, the Center’s name changed to Independent Enterprises, serving Newton and Rockdale Counties. Mary continued to work and retired after thirty-four years of service. Mary gained many life friends over the thirty-four years at Independent Enterprise.

 On December 18, 2018, God called her to eternal rest. She is preceded in death by her husband, Mr. Willie H. Smith; parents, Mr. Johnny B. Brown, Sr and Mrs. Mary M. Brown; brother, Robert Brown; three sisters, Virginia Brown, Geraldine Miles and Annie Pear Lett.

She leaves to cherish her precious memories, two sons, Mr. James Gudes, Mr. & Mrs. Odell (Amber) Gudes, Jr.; four sisters, Mrs. Mella Bennett, Mrs. Willie Vera Perkins, Ms. Janie Brown, all of Blakely, GA and Mrs. Bertha Brown- Powell of Columbus, GA; four brothers, Mr. & Mrs. Johnny B. (Betty Jean) Brown, Jr., Mr. & Mrs. Sylvester (Bertha) Brown, Blakely, GA, Retired Staff SSGT Marvin (Sandra) Brown, Anchorage, Alaska, and Mr. Nathaniel Brown, of Columbus, GA and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

A funeral service was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 28 at Victory Community Church with the Rev. Dough Nelms officiating.