We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:8
Mary Smith, our wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on January 16, 2017. She is survived by her husband Melvin Smith; her daughter Teresa and son-in-law Danny Kessie; grandson Joshua Kessie, his wife Hannah and great-grandsons Ezekiel and Isaiah; granddaughter Jewel Malafronte and her husband Mitchell; granddaughter Joy Dotters and her husband
Killian; and grandson Jonathan Kessie.
We are celebrating her life on Sunday, January 22 at Park Place Wesleyan Church,
4400 70th Ave. N., Pinellas Park. The viewing will be at 3:00pm and the service will be at 4:00pm.
One of the best ways to describe a person is through the words of love and respect offered by family and friends. Recently, Facebook posts announcing Mary's homecoming were sprinkled with comments of caring as well as sorrow.
Heaven's gain, our loss. My precious mommy is running barefoot through the grass with Jesus…she was a wonderful lady…such a sweet lady…I cherish the times of reunions I spent with Mary as we worked together…love this sweet lady and enjoyed it when she would call and just want to talk, I will miss her hugs…what an exemplary life she lived…amazing woman of faith…such a blessing to so many…I will miss her…our Mary was a treasure…I loved her, a precious lady…sweet Mary…she loves Jesus SO much - I can only imagine her joy…"Mary, Mary, quite contrary"--my favorite thing to call her…a sweet lady who loved the Lord dearly…what a sweet and funny lady…great lady with a great servant's heart…she was a beautiful light…I have precious memories of your mom…she was such an amazing Godly woman…such a blessing to me when I started my walk with the Lord…Mary was always a bright spot to my days with her beautiful smile and humor. Such a sweet countenance to her and a servant heart…what a blessed woman…she always had those catty answers which I enjoyed…you undoubtedly had one of the dearest moms in the whole world, and it was a privilege to have known her…your mom had a heart of gold, she was a fine example of living for Jesus. I remember watching her praise Jesus when I was at Park Place Wesleyan Church…precious gift… such an amazing woman and I'm so proud I got to know her…dear friend…beautiful smile and an even more beautiful soul. She embodied the true meaning of "Christianity". Her love for Jesus not only influenced future generations in her family but it reached way beyond.
You are loved and are already being missed.