Jean McIntyre Smith

Mamie Jean McIntyre Smith

Jean Smith, born in Red Oak, NC, passed away on August 27 following a brief illness.

The 8th child of K.H. and Eula McIntyre, Jean grew up in a family with a strong tradition of education, music, and faith. She graduated as salutatorian of her high school class, then attended Women's College of UNC in Greensboro. She met her husband of 70 years, Jim Smith, while working at the UNC Chapel Hill library. They married and moved to Atlanta, GA where Jim began his legal career, and they started their family. Jean became mother of four, grandmother of nine, and great-grandmother of four with more on the way. Jean maintained close contact with her large extended family, organizing gatherings and reunions. Jean was especially focused on their grandchildren who knew her as "Mamie." She was always willing to take them on adventures, sing to them, cook for them, play piano for them and teach them card games. She would go to their grandchildren's schools and tell stories in her Fairy Godmother costume.

Jean lived a life of loving service to her family and community. She and Jim joined the North Decatur Presbyterian Church in 1965 and later Peachtree Presbyterian Church in 1973. They sang together in the choir for decades and both served as elders at Peachtree. Over the years, Jean was president of the Women of the Church and taught Sunday School. She volunteered across Atlanta. She was the President of the Alliance Children's Theater Guild in 1983 and was recognized for her service to the Alliance Theater Company from 1983-1988. Jean was a president of the Atlanta Salvation Amry Auxiliary, she taught poetry to women at the Atlanta Union Mission, she served as President of the Northside Women's Club and was voted Woman of the year in 1986 and 1991. If that wasn't enough, Jean was an Atlanta tour guide with Guidelines Atlanta. While not big in stature Jean was a huge presence in the lives of her family and the community.

Jean was a member of the Southern Order of Storytellers. She performed in various plays, including solo performances of Belle of Amherst about Emily Dickinson, the biblical Book of Ruth (which she memorized and could recite into her 80's). Almost every Christmas season she performed a work by her sister Patsy called "Mary in Retrospect." Jean and Jim retired to Lake Hartwell in 1999, where they continued their community involvement and focus on family joining Hartwell Presbyterian church, singing in the choir, performing in local theater and volunteering at the library and garden club.

Jean brightened lives with her loving, joyful, and energetic presence. Whether cooking wonderful meals, traveling around the world with Jim, dominating a bridge game, working in her garden, or cheering the Carolina Tarheels, her presence filled the room. She was one of those vital people whose love and devotion hold the world together.

She is preceded in death by her husband James F. Smith, her grandson Keith Baker, and all but one of her siblings. She is survived by her sister Peggy Reed, daughters and husbands Allison and Bret Baker and Miriam and Tim McLemore, sons and spouses Bryant and Betsy Smith, Stuart Smith and partner Robert Marlow, grandchildren Bryce Baker (Samantha), Meredith Campbell (Garrett), Kalynn Beckler (Kyle), Taylor Smith (Chrystal), Alex Smith (Micaela), Timothy (Ty) McLemore (Courtney), Allison (Alli) McLemore and Luke McLemore, and great-grandchildren Jett, Bailee, and Mae Baker, and Bonnie Campbell.