Alma Smith

Mrs. Alma Irene Smith was born on July 21, 1920, in Mt. Carmel, South Carolina. Irene went to be home with the LORD and her mother on their birthday on July 21, 2018. She was the daughter of the late Georgia and John Davis. After many years of celebrating her birthday on July 27th, we learned recently that her birthdate was actually July 21st.

She graduated from the historic Sterling High School class of 1937.  She was an absent member of Bethel Church of God and a member of Lincoln Street Missionary Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters: Isabella Atchinson and Edna Mae Gilliam; her children, Rev. Gerzie Porter, Louis Smith, Jr., and Georgia Cullins; and her grandchildren, Shronda Thomason and Richard Bolden, Jr.

Irene is survived by a son, John M. Smith and four daughters, Shirley Ann Thomas, Ora Lee Donald, Carolyn Parks, and Claudia B. Smith; one son-in-law, William H. Cullins, Jr.; two nieces, Gail “Bunny” Gilliam and Diane (Fred) Jenkins; nephews, Brian (Karen) Gilliam and Damon Anderson; grandchildren, Shoyna (Shalamar) Heyward, Stephanie (Mork) Roseboro, Tamika Myles-Smith, Shana Parks, Starkisha McGowan, Cathy Donald, Patricia Cosby, Joel (Kesha) Thomas, David (Kadedra) Donald, Tra’vis Smith and Chris Thomas; great-grandchildren, Gerzie (Shawn) Sherrod, Janice (Trevin) Hagood, Stephanie (Jason) Wheeler, Brittany Thomason, Tanika Smith, Chrishonna Sanders, Saniyah Robinson, Siquroyah Shabazz, Shaniyah Shabazz, Pryncess Thomas, Tracie Smith, Christine Donald, Sequena (Jamilla) Svansson-Brown, Phyliss Heyward, Malinda Lee, Cynthia Cosby, Cedrick Wideman, Antoine Smith, Jr., Shalamar Heyward, Jr., Quadir Parks, Eric Luster, II, Tre’vis Luster, Marcellus Smith,  Joel Thomas, Jr, Richard Grayton, and Qwantavious Heyward; great-great-grandchildren, Charlene Wright, Janice Sherrod, Harmony Wideman, Atalaya Wideman, Harper Avery Svansson-Brown, Jer’Kayleen Watley, Savannah Wheeler, Zi’Arrah Luster, Khalani Gilliam, Zaniyah Heyward, Erica Wilson, Alexandria Lee, Lindsay Grayton, Timothy Thomason, Christian Wideman, Ver’nion Glenn, Jermarcus Watley, Jer’Kayden Watley, Kamarion Horton, Jayden Wheeler, Zaquan Heyward, and Blake Grayton, Jataviuos Grayton, and Eric Wilson; great-great-great-grandchild, Carson Grayton; a godson, David Davis; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was a grandmother to everyone and was lovingly known as UMA.