Annie Mildred J. Smith

Annie Mildred Johnson Smith' life's journey began at 11:45 pm on October 23, 1947. She was born into the lives of her 36 year old father, Foster Johnson and her 28 year old mother, Mamie B. Jane Bethune, in the small city of Rex, North Carolina. As a result of an accidental fall in her home on Thursday, October 9, 2014, God dispatched His angels to welcome her into heaven and escorted her to her brand new mansion. Mildred (as she was known), attended Oak Ridge Road High School from 1st-12th grades. In 1969, she obtained her bachelors of Arts Degree from Bennett College, a prominent all girls college in Greensboro, North Carolina. After graduating, she moved to Baltimore, Maryland and took up residence with Hazel Murphy and her (Hazel's) brother-in-law, William "Buster" Murphy. She first applied her employment with the State of Maryland but because of a hiring freeze, she worked 5 years in retail for Stewarts Department Store as a sales clerk and later was promoted to assistant buyer. In 1974, she began her career with the state as an agent for The Division of Parole and Probation, where she retired from after 37 years of service in March 2010. She affectionately referred to her colleagues as "my gang" explaining that they (office manager, supervisors and agents) always protected and looked out for each other. She also worked a second job for 3 years as a real estate agent for Century 21. She felt blessed to have obtained jobs that she loved. She became more "relaxed" and satisfied with her life as she aged because she lived with no regrets and did what she wanted to do (and didn't do things she didn't want to do) when the opportunities presented themselves. In addition to beginning the career she desired in 1974, she also married Clarence Ray Smith (Smitty) on February 1, 1974. From that union, she became a mother of two: Keira Smith on February 21, 1977 and Shauna Smith on May 19, 1980. Though Mildred and Smitty separated and divorced after 13 years of marriage. She was grateful for his devotion to his children. She always gave him credit for being a great father. Even in separation, they maintained a covenant to keep life insurance policies on each other to bare final home going expenses on one another. 27 years later he bares no expense to honor that covenant. In 2008, Mildred was diagnosed cognitive impairment, which was upgraded to dementia and later escaladed to Alzheimer's. Keira moved back home to be the caregiver for their mom shortly after that diagnosis of cognitive impairment in 2008. Due to the progression of her illness, Mildred chose an early retirement with The Division of Parole and Probation in march 2010. Mildred loved to sing and she loved and trusted the Lord. Even through all she was coping with, her faith never waivered. She was still strong willed, determined to be as independent as possible and took advantage of opportunities as they came. She recently experienced her life-long dreams of going to Honolulu, Hawaii and Paris, France (with her younger daughter Shauna, accompanied by her youngest of two grandson's KyS'eon Thomas). Shauna who is fighting her own battle with multiple sclerosis, was more focused on making her mom's dreams come true. Within the last two years, they even went to New York to see the Broadway shows, "The Lion King", "Stomp" and "Motown the Musical" (accompanied by Shauna's friend Lisa Griffin); cruise to Halfmoon Cay & Grand Turk Bahamas (accompanied by her cousin Eupha Bethune and caregiver assistant Karen Belcher); to Hollywood, California to be apart of a televised studio audience for Wayne Brady's "Let's make A Deal", XFactor; America's Got Talent; and Pete Holmes Show-under Conan O'Brian; (accompanied by caregiver helper Karen Belcher). Shauna also took her mother to Atlanta, GA for the taping of Steve Harvey's Family Freud while Keira lived with and remained her care giver until the day God called her home. Many would never guess that Mildred had no intentions on having children when she got married. She had Keira because Smitty wanted a child. Shauna was totally unplanned since Mildred thought her taking precautions in having an IUD implanted would keep her from having anymore children. However, God had a different plan. Imagine her total shock when the doctor informed her she was pregnant once again. Surprisingly, her children became her greatest joy. She based her life around the safety and well-being of her girls and her grandson. Mildred's children (and grandchildren) became her life. She celebrated them by giving them several birthday parties; home-made Easter baskets tailored to their individual taste; having them as back up singers when she was asked to sing at events (such as a prayer breakfast) and in sharing her real estate accomplishments by giving them part of her earnings. Because of this, they selfishly became her little motivators. Due to her profession, she was very protective of her children and grandchildren. She made many sacrifices to be a wonderful mother and teacher, preparing her children for the responsibility of becoming independent adults. Her tactics may have seemed harsh to them and others, but they were well prepared when it was time for them to move out on their own. With education and food for the soul being paramount in her life, she insured that her girls were exposed to the best of both. She "stretched' her finances to enroll them in the Catholic School System. Mildred also made sure Keira and Shauna were well-rounded. She allowed them to participate in anything they wanted to try. They were involved in extracurricular activities such as: basketball, cheerleading, band, karate, modern dance, singing/choirs, badminton, and piano lessons, to name a few. Mildred felt blessed to have some life-long friends and family members who made her feel loved and didn't make her feel any less of a person because of her memory issues and health. But one special cousin in particular, Tyrone Bethune, would talk to her for hours and she never got bored. They always had interesting conversation. She even earned respect from neighborhood drug dealers, who would make sure she returned home safely if she walked around the corner to the store or barbershop and they would assist her with carrying groceries or even yard work. Mildred's father, Foster Johnson; mother Mamie B. Johnson; two sisters, Joyce Harrington and Pauline Wilkerson; and her brother, James F. Johnson, Jr. preceded her in death. Annie Mildred Johnson Smith may be gone from this life, but she will never be forgotten. She leaves to cherish her precious memories: two daughters, Keira and Shauna Smith; two grandsons, Keith Smith and KyS'eon Thomas; one sister, Margie Rogers (Cary) of Red Springs, NC; one brother, John D. Johnson (Pearl); special nieces, Tarsha & Summer Rogers; special nephew, Walter "Jr." Harrington; special cousins, Tyrone Bethune, Eupha Washington, Betty Bethea Bethune-Graves and Henry; life-time friends, Darlene Murphy, Howard J. Gillis, Pamela Renee Pennix Broom-Webster, Dwan Clary and Hazel Murphy; special friends, Helen Smith, Gladys Smith, Mary Smith, Diane Ellis (affectionately called her two- toned sister), Michelle McDonald, Millie Johnson; Portia Jones, Dorothy Weeks, Paulette Hill, Grace Godwin, Rose Gunn, Barbara Green, Alfreda Murphy, Rose Gilliam, Frances Knockett, Barry Elliott, Karen Belcher and Deborah Hines; and a host of nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. Those are memories that we (the family) have, but the thing that she wanted you to know is that "the life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living" (something she heard during a speech on television) and that "people remember you from the way you lived."

Tributes

Annie Mildred J. Smith

October 23, 1947 - October 9, 2014