Barbara P. Smith AKA, Bobbie, Momma, and Gran, died peacefully on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 at her home in Clinton, Mississippi.

She was born on May 3, 1942 in Lake Charles, LA, where she was the youngest of three girls. She was the daughter of a Baptist preacher and a stay-at-home mother. Her father's ministry led the family on a tour of southern Louisiana making stops in Lake Charles, New Iberia and Lafayette to name a few. She had memories of swimming in the Bayou Teche, which made her shudder with each remembrance.

She attended USL, and before she stepped into her true calling of full-time homemaker, Bobbie worked as a switch board operator. She didn't like the headsets one bit, but "loved talking to all those people". She was also church secretary at First Baptist Church, Lafayette where she served with the late Perry Sanders. She firmly believed that she was never sweet enough to be a church secretary.

After marrying Smith in 1972, this newly formed bunch moved to Clinton, MS, where she succeeded in making their house a home for over 40 years.

She loved Jesus and supported her Christian community as children's choir teacher and the amazing cook who used to whip up FBC Clinton's Wednesday night dinner with Jean Ramsey. She served as Past Matron of Clinton Chapter #344 Order of Eastern Star and Rainbow Mom for Clinton Assembly #65 International Order of the Rainbow for Girls. She was also the city-wide chairman of the annual American Cancer Society Drive in Clinton for nearly a decade.

Bobbie sang her way through life. Her heart of worship led her from a choir loft in Jeanerette to a stage at the Omni to Edwards and Bovina Methodist churches, where she's been "filling in" as special music director and pianist since the early 90s. It was also quite common to hear her piano and voice fill our home.

On Tuesday, she joined her family: Husband, James Emanuel Smith, Jr.; Father, Hiram Peevy; Mother, Avice Pritzen Peevy; Sister, Carolyn Thomas; Grandson, James Emanuel Smith IV (JES), and her "Best Friend Jeffrey" aka Jeff Olenski in heaven.

Bobbie is survived by daughters, Kelly Smith, Nancy Lee Womack, Lori Womack, and Amy Womack Hines; son James E. Smith, III and his wife Gina; Grandchildren Meagan Smith Pursell and her husband David, Morgan Womack, Kasey Hines Cordell and her husband William, CJ Hines and Taylor Hines and fiancé Nico; and great-grandsons Joseph, Grayson, and "3baby" Cordell who is due In March; Sister, Jean Heart; "Daughter of their Hart", Deborah Welch; as well as cousins, nieces, nephews, and countless people who were fortunate enough to be loved by Bobbie.

Visitation will be from 6-8pm Friday September 18th and Saturday the 19th from 1-2 at Wright & Ferguson, 106 Cynthia Dr. in Clinton, MS. The funeral service will immediately follow Saturday's visitation. A private family interment will take place at a later date. Memorials should be sent to the American Cancer Society.