Obituary of Essie Smith

Essie Dee Smith, 94, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday March 15, 2015 at Lakeland Hospital in Niles, Michigan at 9:20 a.m. with her devoted daughter Gloria at her side. She was born to John and Josephine Jenkins in Saline, Louisiana on July 24, 1920. Essie accepted Christ at an early age and was raised by a single father who gave her a strong Christian upbringing in addition to teaching her many of his native Cherokee ways. She moved from Saline to Canton, Missouri then migrated to Niles, Michigan in 1954 where she joined Bethlehem Baptist Church, Rev. Dennis Guiden Sr. As a long time resident of Taft Street she was well known and made many friends. Essie was a hard working woman who worked at Port-A-Fina and later retired from Simplicity Pattern Company. Essie was a loving and dedicated mother, grandmother, godmother, aunt and friend. She was the life of the party and always wanted to have a good time. She kept a smile on her face and liked to laugh. She met no stranger and turned away no one in need. There are no words that can express how much she loved her family and enjoyed the time she spent with them all. She is proceded in death by her Son Lance "Jack" Smith, three Sisters Eva D. Kirtdoll, Ola Jenkins and Della West, two Brothers Willie Jenkins and JE Jenkins, two Grandchildren Angela Smith and Rochelle Smith, one great great grandson Marcellus Smith-Forrest,Jr., four Nieces Barbara Hamilton, Jessie Grose, Ella Haynes and Josephine Kirtdoll, and two Nephwes Clarence "Ray" McKinnes,Willie Pete Kirtdoll, and two Special Friends TJ Herring and Mildred Bray. Essie leaves to cherish her loving memory, one Daughter: Gloria Delores Smith. Eight Grandchildren: Torie Smith, Shaquille Smith-Johnson, Jackie Smith, Patricia Smith-Hooper, Lance Smith jr, Steven Smith, Dorice Smith and Michael Smith. 22 Great Grandchildren in whom she played an active role in raising and rearing: Marcellus Smith-Forrest, Isaac Murphy-Forrest, Ilijah Murphy-Forrest, Mikel Carter-Forrest, Tre'Chelle Smith-Forrest, JaTorian Smith, Jermaine Smith, Andrea Smith, Stevan Smith jr, Staveena Smith, Sharda Maxine Smith, Steven Smith, Shatia Smith, Tyrese Smith, Kiesha Hooper, Jeanette Hooper, Dominique Hill, Justice Hill, Mickla Smith, Christopher Beal, Curtis Beal and Cortez Beal, one special great great granddaughter Naomi Smith-Forrest, nieces and nephews that she loved and treated like her own children: Willie J. Mckinnes, Billy Kirtdoll, Betty Ward, Benny Kirtdoll, Frances Roland, Ernestine"Dean" Smoot, Emma Grose, Mary Kirtdoll-Cross, Martha Kirtdoll, Debra Kirtdoll-Fleming and Mary Leggett. While all of Essie's Great Nieces and Great Nephews were special to her thoes who lived close spent a great deal of time with her and she shared a special connection with: Timmy Kirtdoll, Renauta Kirtdoll, Tommy Kirtdoll, Yolanda Kirtdoll-Austin, Dennis Kirtdoll, Sonya Kirtdoll, Ivery Cross III, Jonathan Haynes, Latoya Haynes, Otis Haynes, Nadia Kirtdoll-Ward, Jabar Kirtdoll, Knenah Kirtdoll, Christopher Kirtdoll, Nikki Kirtdoll and Eva Thompson. One Goddaughter Temple Walkert, four Godson's Marcus Bray, James Bray, Ronnie Bray and Tony Murphy.