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Mildred Joanne Smith
1921 - 2015
Mildred Joanne Smith
1921 - 2015
Obituary
Guest Book
BORN
1921
DIED
2015
Mildred Smith Obituary
Noted for her beauty and acting talent, Smith helped break down color barriers on Broadway in the production of "Beggar's Holiday," in which she played the love interest of white actor Alfred Drake. She was also a notable singer, appearing with Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn and composer Luther Henderson in " rel="nofollow, noindex" class="obit-text-link">
Smith's only film appearance was in "No Way Out," written and directed by Academy Award winner Joseph L. Mankiewicz. It featured roles for black actors that were more complex and realistic than was common in Hollywood at the time. Smith received positive reviews for her performance as the stoic wife of Sydney Poitier's character, Dr. Luther Brooks, in the film.
Her career in the movies was cut short by severe injuries including a broken back and ribs sustained in an airplane crash in 1952. After her recovery she took a job as woman's editor of the black life-style magazine "Our World" and later became an English teacher. According to her family she attributed her success as a teacher to her experience on stage and knowing how to entertain an audience.
She was preceded in death by her husband David A. Hepburn and is survived by her daughter, son, stepdaughter and six grandchildren.
55 Entries
Nazarene McKinney
April 27, 2017
The righteous will possess the earth, And they will live forever on it
diane springfid
August 21, 2015
I remember u my love goes out to u tete we only have a short while u have a ball in life with other angels till I see u there an rejoicing it up
How you can show support
BrendaLee Kearney
August 3, 2015
WE LOVE YOU* MILDRED JOANNE SMITH. FAMILY WE LIVE 4 MILDRED* FAMILY IS 4EVER 2 LOVE ONE ANOTHER* 8-3-2015 @ 11:41 A.M.
Brenda Kearney * MaMuYaMuMa * I AM*
August 3, 2015
YS2GOD * OUR LOVE IS 4REAL 4YOU & 4EVER* * * * 8-3-2015 @ 11:03 A.M.
Jeneva Thomas
August 3, 2015
My deepest sympathies go out to the Smith family. May God give you the comfort and peace your family need on this day. Luke 20: 37-38 speaks of the dead and how they will be raised to life.
Trish Thomas
August 2, 2015
My Prayers go out TO the SMITH family!
Joyce Brown
August 1, 2015
Hands up to you for representing our black heritage may yo Rip
August 1, 2015
I would like to offer my deepest condolences for your loss. May your family find peace and comfort in knowing sickness, pain and death will one day be gone for this has been promised.
Shay
July 31, 2015
What a wonderful lady! It was so nice reading about her life and accomplishments. May her loved ones find comfort in knowing that soon God will give you the joy of embracing her and living with her again on a paradise earth forever.(John 6:40; Psalms 37:9,11,29)
What a beautiful day to look forward to!
patricia A Ware
July 31, 2015
Prayers for entire family and her dear friends
July 30, 2015
Sincere condolences to all who mourn Mildred's passing. Can't say I saw that particular movie but will look out for it. I truly enjoy watching such oldies. She is gone, but her contribution to the industry will continue to entertain us. Look forward to the fulfillment of John 5:25, 28-29.
Sonia, New York
K Johnson
July 30, 2015
My Condolences on the loss of your Dear Family Member. May The God of All Comfort (Psalms 83:18) be a source of true Comfort for your Family at this time.
BVD
July 30, 2015
Our deepest condolences to your family. May your loving memories hold close in your heart and God's love give you peace and comfort. (John 17:3)
D R
July 30, 2015
My deepest sympathy is with the Smith Family. Please take one day at a time, because the Bible says the next day have its on anxieties. Matthew 6:34.
July 30, 2015
My deepest sympathy for your loss may the God of comfort (Ps. 83:18) grant you peace during this difficult time.
July 30, 2015
May the God of Peace be with you and your family during this time. Let your warm and enjoyable memories of Mildred help you to cope and reflect on her well-lived life.
July 29, 2015
With deepest sympathy to the family...May your memories of her help to ease the pain.
Hon. Mike Taylor
July 28, 2015
O/B/O The NYS Chaplains, our condolences to the Smith family..
A Retired Educator
July 28, 2015
It is my pleasure to meet Mildred Joanne Smith through the pages of her obituary. What an inspiration to black women and educators everywhere. It is comforting to know that she is peacefully sleeping now resting from decades of effort utilizing her acting expertise to inspire young minds. Surely Ms. Smith is highly valued and very precious in God's eyes. My condolences!
Betty Wilson
July 28, 2015
It can be so hard to face the first year without your loved one, but the love of family and friends can carry you through.
July 28, 2015
My sincere condolence to the family. Draw comfort in knowing your loved one is resting in peace (Ecclesiastes 9:5)
July 28, 2015
Miss Mildred saw a lot of changes during her lifetime for people of color. Condolences on your loss.
May each of you find continued comfort, peace of mind, and a bright future in the words of Numbers 23:19 quote "God is not a mere man who tells lies....When he says something, will he not do it? When he speaks, will he not carry it out?" (New World Translation of Holy Scriptures) Those words are a solemn guarantee that the true God (Psalms 83:18) of All Comfort has plans to relieve all kinds of suffering on Earth plus give an opportunity to those now R.I.P.,like Miss Mildred, to be able to enjoy living on Earth again. For lost of life deeply pains our loving Creator.
May your tears from grief turn to tears of joy from the future that's planned.
J-NE P.
California & WV
RLA
July 27, 2015
My condolences to the Smith family. May Mildred's talent and persistence be remembered and admired, and May these gifts and memories be engraved in your hearts and minds until God's promises at John 6:40 are fulfilled.
July 27, 2015
Thank you for your challenges and the example you shared with your talent and strength. God giving's beautiful 4 ways; inside, outside, around us, and with him. Rest in peace with all that beautiful. carol smotherman, Vallejo, Ca
July 27, 2015
What a beauty she was. Our condolences to her family.
July 27, 2015
Rest in heaven. Let the wing fly.
Kenneth Leonard
July 27, 2015
A great pioneer is gone but never to be forgotten!
Verlin Curry
July 27, 2015
May god be with you
July 27, 2015
With deepest sympathy to the Smith family.
May the God of Comfort (Psalm 83:18) grant you the needed strength and the sweetest peace during your time of grief. And may you always cherish the many fond and precious memories of times spent with Mrs. Smith.
Juanita, Florida
Charles
July 27, 2015
Dear family and friends, so sorry for your loss, you can find the comfort you need in God's word at John (5:25, 28-29) my condolences.
July 27, 2015
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
G Ford
July 27, 2015
I extend my deepest sympathy for the loss of your loved one. God promises that there will come a victory over death.
Dwayne Bickham,Sr.
July 27, 2015
In God's care rest in peace
July 26, 2015
Our condolences to the Smith Family,
May your lovely memories live on. May the God who gives peace be with all of you.
Jo Ann Hilmes
July 26, 2015
MY condolences to the family
Carol Dell
July 26, 2015
The Family of Mrs. Smith,
Such a talented young lady, and beautiful too. God blessed her to live a long, long life.
Ac Hudson Sr
July 26, 2015
A long bless, positive life.well lived, Condolences to the family and friends
Eddie & Shelia Harris
July 26, 2015
Our Most Deepest Condolences To The Family.
July 26, 2015
May the God of comfort be with Ms. Smith's family at this time of loss and sadness. What a remarkable life Ms. Smith led .She is truly an inspirational person for those reading about her contributions to this world.
Barbara, Stratford, CT
Dorothy
July 26, 2015
May God, continue to comfort the Smith family, so sorry aby your loss, rest on Mrs Smith.
Judy
July 26, 2015
I as sorry to read about your loss. I would like to comfort the family and friends. In Isiah 26:19 we read "your dead will live. My corpses will rise up. Awake and shout joyfully. And the earth will let those powerless in death come to life."
Jessie & Vickie Jones
July 26, 2015
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Wilson
July 26, 2015
I'm so sorry for your loss. One of the greatest causes of grief is the loss of a loved one in death. It's during this time, we need comfort that soothes our heart that only God's word can give.May you find comfort in knowing that God made hope for the dead possible by sending his Son to die for us all. (John 3:16)Those who die God keeps in his memory because they are precious in his eyes. (Psalms 116:15)
Scott Chamberland
July 26, 2015
Rest in Peace
Adrian Barnette
July 26, 2015
We'll miss you !
July 26, 2015
My sincere condolences to the family.
Harry Simpson
July 26, 2015
Thank you for sharing a part of your life with us.
Sheila
July 26, 2015
Rest in Peace Mildred.
T.T.
July 25, 2015
To the family of Mrs. Mildred, reading about her life helps me to see that she lead a life worthy of imitation. She was a pioneer and an innovator for her time. I will try to find her Broadway performance, and my prayer is that God comforts you all in a way that I cannot.
July 25, 2015
rip
July 25, 2015
To the Smith family
May the God of comfort strengthen family and friends. A help that is readily found in times of distress.
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