Lurline L. Smith

Lurline Lemoyne (Jackson) Smith was born April 14, 1919 in LaGrange, Georgia to Edward Jackson and Jessie (Hines) Jackson. She was one of 14 children.  All of her siblings have preceded her in death. Her family moved to Chattanooga Tennessee when she was very young.  Lurline received her education in the Tennessee Public School System.

Lurline met and married James Anderson Smith January 7, 1942. To that union one son was born, Larry Anderson Smith. Both her husband James and son Larry preceded her in death.

Lurline and James move to Detroit with their infant son in 1943. James worked in the Automotive Industry while Lurline was initially a home maker. For a short period of time she worked at the neighborhood grocery store “Super 8 Grocery Store”. She subsequently gained employment with the Detroit Public Schools System, as a Sanitation Specialist.  Approximately ten years before she retired, she became a Supervisor at the DPS School Center Building where she worked until she retired.

Lurline while working also raised her four grandsons. Derrick Duane, Larry Bernard and Kevin LaMar who preceded her in death and Clayton who has been her caregiver up to her passing. Lurline was also a mother figure to many others. She raised her youngest sister Peggy from the age of 12. She also cared for her youngest brother Edward after he was disabled from a serious automobile accident. She has supported and aided many of her great/great-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews as well as other children in the neighborhood.  She would always provide a kind word, a listening ear and was available to help when she could. This is a true testament of her generous and loving spirit.

One thing Lurline really enjoyed in her free time was playing cards. She hosted and participated in many card parties over the years. These card parties were not for the “faint at heart”. These parties would start in the evening and often run into the next morning when the sun came up.

Lurline made her transition on February 15, 2022 at William Beaumont Hospital at the age of 102.

Lurline leaves to cherish her memory her grandson Clayton Smith; one great-grandson Kevin (other preceded her in death Derrick); three great-granddaughters Kellye, Gloria, Kynise; nine great-great grandchildren; one brother-in-law Dr. George Gibson; and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, and friends. Also, to cherish her memory are Delores, Bianca, Alexis, Micah and Andrea who cared for her during her last days with us.