Jean Louise Smith

Jean Smith was born in Miami Florida on 5-10-1930 to Emily Lorine Muns and Solomon Louis Muns and was the youngest of 7 children. They and the oldest son Louis are buried in a Cemetery in Dublin, GA. She attended Little River Elementary and Miami Edison High School (while living at 8036 NE 10th Ct). Moved to Rentz, GA on a farm at age 15 and attended Dublin High School. Graduated in 1947 as Valedictorian. Won a multi-county scholarship and attended GSCW for 2 years until money was exhausted.
Jean taught 1 year (6th Grade) in Jeffersonville, GA + Summer School at GSCW) 2 Summers and was able to return to GSCW to earn BS in Education in 1951. Taught 1 year (4th Grade) in Millen, GA and then to Albany, GA for 3 years teaching.
She met Albert Smith there on a blind date - went to the FSU Circus.. Six months later were married on November 22, 1953. First child - Debra - was born 12-28-1955 in Albany, GA. December 1956 they moved to Atlanta for Albert's work. Albert knew a few people from his time at Emory University. They joined University Heights Methodist Church during which time their son Ed was born (7-5-58) and their daughter, Diane 2-19-1962. They moved their membership to Oak Grove UMC in 1963 as it was closer and more neighborhood children went there.
As the children were growing up Jean worked several part-time jobs such as alterations, office work, gift shop, Tea Room and Catering. Several years helping people at Kingsbridge with alterations. Made many friends through sewing. In 1985 she returned to teaching as a Para Pro with Hearing Impaired children at Henderson Mill Elementary School. It was great to return to teaching where she stayed for 15 years.
Their son Ed died suddenly in a motorcycle accident in June 1979 at age 21. In January 1994, Albert died of a heart attack. Through both of these, Oak Grove UMC was so supportive from Sunday School to UMW to all other groups of which she was a part.
At the end of school 2000 she retired to be able to help Debra after a knee replacement. (Her husband had been murdered 2 years before by 3 members of a gang who got less than $100).
Jean spent several years traveling with Doris Lovell and enjoying retirement. December 2010 received the bad news that Diane, her youngest daughter had died instantly after driving her daughter home from a friend's house. She was 48. Shortly after, her husband had a heart attack. A week later Debra broke her hip. Jean had been helping Debra part time before this but this began four years of 12-15 hours every day as she gradually got worse. She died 3-14-2015 after being in hospitals on and off since Christmas day.
Jean has been living in the Northlake area and working with Oak Grove UMC. Survivors include her grandchild Lori Creviston and two great-grandchildren Annabelle Benoit, Zoe Benoit and Sophia Holcombe and her grandchildren Kyle Mangum, Rachel Mangum and Kate Mangum as well as her son in law Don Mangum.