Marjorie Maner Smith

Marjorie Maner Smith, 87, was born in Morgan County, AL 12/18/1934 and died 10/24/2022 in Marietta, GA. She is preceded in death by her son Bradley Smith; and her only grandchild, Robert Hambrick; her parents, Robert Glenn and Vera (Cagle) Maner; her sister, Barbara Jones. She is survived by her daughter, Myra Smith Hambrick; siblings, Robert "Butch" Maner (Judy), Gary Maner (Nancy) and Melanie Simpson (Don); her precious Noah Boler, nieces, nephews, cousins and many beloved friends.

Marjorie worked many jobs trying to support her family. When she divorced, she had a young daughter and was pregnant with her son. Back then, a woman had to quit work when she started showing. Marjorie received no child support or government assistance, so she and her young daughter and new baby son temporarily moved into a small camper in her parent's backyard. She returned to work several weeks after his birth. She was a single mother with two small children who worked incredibly hard and fought to make a good life for her children. She worked two jobs until her daughter's last year of college. The last 30+ years of her working life was at Mutual Savings Life Insurance Company where she worked her way up to Vice President of Underwriting.

When her children were young Marjorie made simple things fun. She would take them to the Drive-In where it only cost a dollar to enter. She made popcorn and hamburgers at home and took them to the theatre where they sat on a blanket on the hood of the car and enjoyed the goodies. If she was driving down the road and a good song came on, she would pull over so the kids could get out and dance. She always knew how to make things fun.

Marjorie loved reading, nature, travel and true crime shows on television. What was fascinating to her was how one small piece of forensic evidence could catch the perpetrator. Marjorie believed in getting an education to better yourself. She told her children that their life was not their own until they graduated from college. She enjoyed learning something new every day.

Marjorie's younger sister, Melanie, said she learned charity when as a child she witnessed Marjorie tearfully give money to two small children who had asked the store manager if they had any food they were going to throw away.

She had a passion for helping others, especially children. She volunteered at the Boys and Girls Clubs in Alabama. There she met a child, Noah, that she mentored and now he is a young man in college. She loved cooking for the children, and they loved it, too. In Georgia she helped at Sawyer Road Elementary with a first-grade class. Every holiday she would bring the children presents, her only regret was that she couldn't do it for the whole school. She would cook for some of her friends at Atherton Place. They enjoyed getting things that they normally didn't get to eat.

Marjorie's children jokingly called her Saint Margie, Our Lady of Guilt, but with guilt she taught them many of life's necessary lessons. It kept them out of a lot of trouble because they always wanted to make her proud. A favorite saying of Marjorie's to her daughter was "You have 30 minutes to feel sorry for yourself and then suck it up." She had a wonderful wit and sense of humor.

Marjorie was a loving, kind, and strong person who wanted to leave this world a better place. She often said; "You may not be able to change the world, but you can change your corner of it." She had a unique way of relating to people and it would grow into a loving friendship. Her faith in God made her see her life as truly blessed.

A private ceremony will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers send donations to Trujillo Christian School P.O. Box 606 Hiram, Georgia 30141. Overseen by the West Metro Church of Christ. Or Flint Church of Christ, 1205 Mill Rd. SE, Decatur, Alabama 35603 for Harry's Kids, Liberte Ministries.