Mary Frances Smith

“Jesus said to her: I am the resurrection and the life. He that exercises faith in me, even though he dies, will come to life.” – John 11:25, “New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures”, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, 1984

Mary Frances Smith was born to Dixie Catherine and Ulysses Grant Manning on October 14, 1931 in Troy, Alabama. She was the oldest of seven children, followed by Rene, James, Terah, Raymond, Marie, and Shirley.

She married Thomas Odell Smith on August 28, 1947. Together they had eleven children, Tommy Ray, David Gene, Donald Wayne, Sandra Marie, Robert Grant, James Allen, Charles Raymond, Michael Vernon, Dora Catherine, Stephen Louis, and Nancy Lorene to join Thomas’ two sons, Thomas Odell Jr. and Herman Wesley. She thought of her sons and daughters-in-law as her children as well, Eunice, Sangie, Valencia, Gary Bruce, Karen, Cassandra, Jennifer, Robert Collins, Charles Inman, Carla, and Glenn Gates. She loved and was dearly loved by her family including her many, many grandchildren, and extended family.

Mary Frances had a strong love for Jehovah God and His son, Jesus Christ. She held God’s promise of the resurrection very close to her heart, because she longed for the day when she would be reunited with her loved ones on paradise earth where as the Bible promises at Revelation 21 : 3-4, sickness, sorrow, and death will be no more.

Mary Frances’ Favorite Scripture

Psalms 83 : 18- “That people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah, you alone are the Most High over all the earth.”

Song 222

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize!

1. When eyes of blind ones hear again

And ears of deaf ones hear again,

          When deserts blossom as the rose

And from parched ground fresh water flows,

When loved ones lame ones leap just like the heart,

When loved ones never have to part

-Such blessed times you’ll realize

If you keep your eyes on the prize

2. When tongues of mute ones speak again,

When old ones will be young again

When earth will yield her rich increase

And all good things will never cease,

When songs of children fill the air

When joy and peace are everywhere,

Then, too, you’ll see the dead arise

If you keep your eyes on the prize.

3. When wolves and lambs will feed as one

When bears and calves bask in the sun,

A mere young boy will lead them all,

And they will heed his childish call.

When tears belong to yesterday,

When fears and pain have passed away,

You’ll see how God these things supplies

If you keep your eyes on the prize.