Dorothy Temple Dedeaux-Smith

Ms. Dorothy Temple Dedeaux Smith was born to Harry and Mary Dedeaux on January 16, 1940. She was one of a pair of twins, but her twin died before they were born--yet Dorothy survived and thrived throughout the rest of her life.
Dorothy attended school at small primary schools in DeLisle, Mississippi: one established by her maternal grandfather, the second conducted in the St. Stephen's Church Hall which educated Black Creole children. Dorothy graduated in eighth grade but refused to allow her lack of formal education to limit her work life.
Instead, she initially worked as a chef at the Miramar Nursing Home for some years before completing beautician school and working as a hairdresser. She also trained and worked as a seamstress before attaining her GED degree and settling into a career at the Philips Pharmaceutical Plant in Gulfport, MS. She was smart and strong in every career, and she worked very hard throughout her life, but she believed in more than work.
One of the most essential aspects of her character was her belief in community, service, and faith. Dorothy was an instrumental figure in the DeLisle community. She practiced mutual aid, much of it through St. Stephen's church. She spent many years volunteering through the Catholic church; she cooked for the annual bazaars held in the summertime through the 80s and 90s. She also consistently cooked for Friday night church fundraisers; throughout the week, she prepared meals for disabled community members and the Catholic priests who served St. Stephen's, St. Ann's, and St. William's.
Finally, Dorothy was a fierce protector, provider, and champion of our family. After graduation, she married Adam Dedeaux Jr. and bore seven children: Norine, Judy, Gretchen, Conrad, Wallace, Thomas, and Jason. She was a stalwart, loving wife and mother, who showed her love for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and more through seafood gumbo dinners on Christmas Eve, baking pound cakes and sweet potato and coconut pies for birthdays and holidays, caretaking little ones, and sewing children's holiday dresses and suits. She was a dedicated, loving daughter and sister, contributing to the care of both of her parents in their elderly years, hosting swimming parties for her siblings and their families at her home when the weather was warm, coordinating camping trips to Wolf River, hosting parties for her extended family full of music and laughter, her holding court at the center. She took in children who had difficult home lives in the family and in the community and gave them a place where they felt both safe and loved. She was a riveting storyteller. She was beautiful, startling compliments out of strangers with her spun-silver hair that glowed like moonlight on water, inspiring praise with her beautific face, the kind of beauty that comes of knowing your strength, your worth, and your heart. She was a light to everyone she encountered, passionate and whip-smart and bitingly funny, and we love her now in this life and into the next.
Dorothy is preceded in death by her twin, Shirley Temple Dedeaux, and her parents, Harry and Mary Dedeaux. She is also preceded in death by her beloved brothers, Harry Dedeaux Jr., Michael Dedeaux, Curley Dedeaux, and her beloved sister, Eunice Dedeaux. Finally, she is preceded in death by her adored grandson, Joshua Adam Dedeaux.
To honor her brilliance, her steadfastness, and her beauty, she leaves behind her children: Norine Dedeaux-Casey (Truck Casey Sr.), Gretchen Dedeaux, Judy Dedeaux, Conrad Phillip Dedeaux, Wallace Patrick Dedeaux, Thomas Dedeaux, and Jason Dedeaux (Lynn). She leaves behind fourteen grandchildren: Jesmyn Ward, Nerissa Ward, Charine Ward, Aldon Dedeaux, Dornell Dedeaux, Rufus Barnes, Ebony Gilbert, Carlos Green, Brianna Dedeaux, Destin Dedeaux, Brittany Dedeaux, Sacha Daniels, Jamal Dedeaux (Courtni), and Keenan Cowart (Nicole). She leaves behind 29 great grandchildren: De'Sean (Victoria), Joshua, Au'laysia, Jhernii, Kalani, Joshua, Brandon, Noemie, Brando, Xavier, Carley, Colby, Zoey, Avery, Paul Jr., Brent, Dakota, Jeremiah, Zamora, Tah'lia, Tah'mir, Nova, Corbin, Cambri, Cienna, Calani, Jacob, Natalie, and Saige. She leaves behind two great-great grandchildren: Charlotte and Amar. Her treasured siblings will also continue to cherish her memory: Senovia Hartzog and family, Jane Hamilton and family, Deborah Tate and family, Rachel Kately (Fred) and family, Beverly Dedeaux and family, Larry Dedeaux (Bonnie) and family, and Marilyn Thomas and family. Finally, her bereaved husband Donald Smith and her stepchildren, Andrew Coleman Smith, Donald Smith Jr., and Dionne Marie Whooten Smith will continue to adore and honor her life and memory, as will we all.