Laura E. Smith

Laura Evangeline May Smith of Jackson, Miss., passed away on July 26, 2025 at home after bravely living with glioblastoma for the past year. She was a much beloved mother, wife, sister, daughter-in-law and friend. Born and raised in Oklahoma City, she moved to Hattiesburg, Miss. and attended the University of Southern Mississippi (USM). It was in Hattiesburg where she would meet her husband, Chris. Laura lived and worked for several years in New Orleans, returning to Mississippi to marry and start her family. Laura’s greatest loves were her three precious children, her husband and her animals. She loved classic horror movies, history, documentaries, music, and was extremely creative, enjoying many types of crafts, including making doll houses. At heart, Laura was a caregiver. She loved all creatures, great and small. Her neighbors often saw her sitting on the ground caring for the neighborhood cats. She had a decoration collection for every holiday. Chris said she would decorate the living room like a kindergarten class. And Laura was gentle. Slow to judge. Quick to comfort.

Laura was preceded in death by her parents, John Morris May and Janis McQueen May, and her grandparents Dudley and Larue Rogers McQueen and Morris and Mary Grace May. Laura is survived by husband Christopher Allen Smith; her three children Finnian Revis Smith, Helena Grace Smith, and Sophia Larue Smith; her sisters Erin May Price (J.T.) of Birmingham, Ala., Heather May Kid (Billy) of Tupelo, Miss, Jennifer May Dickey (Richard) of Tupelo, Miss.; her niece Madeleine Price; her nephew Benjamin Price; her parents-in-law Pamela and Ronald Smith; aunts, uncles; cousins; and many beloved friends.

A visitation and informal celebration of Laura’s life will be on Saturday, August 9 from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. at Chancellor Funeral Home in Byram, Mississippi (7225 Siwell Road, Byram, Miss. 39272). In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the National Brain Tumor Society (braintumor.org), your local humane society, or a non-profit of your choosing.