Mary Belle Smith

Mary Belle Smith, age 90, of Columbia, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at South Hampton Place Rehabilitation & Health Care Center in Columbia, Missouri. She was born in Boone County, Missouri to John Franklin and Clara Lorene (Baker) Brown.
Mary Belle graduated from Fred Douglas High School on May 21, 1956. She also took a lot of nursing courses over the years. She married Archie Smith on June 8, 1956. They had two boys: Archie Smith Jr. and William Carl Smith from this union. She and Archie were married just over 50 years at the time of his passing in 2006.
She was employed at the E.N.T. office of Dr. Robert Thomas, as the receptionist & nurse's assistant, for 42 years. She also worked as a C.N.A. at Heritage Hall, Columbia House Healthcare, and The Cedars.
Mary Belle was the patriarch of the funeral homes. She was Warren Chapel's first employee and worked up to the last funeral, being the last employee.
She then started as a funeral assistant at Parker-Millard "since day one" when Reid Millard bought the building on East Ash Street. She worked there up until the age of 89. She made sure everyone had a program prior to the funeral and tissues afterward.
Mary Belle was a people person. She was a member of Russell Chapel C.M.E., and was involved in many groups, both in the church and the community. She was a Russell C.M.E. Chapel Choir member and a member of Church Women United-Columbia and served as the secretary for Russell Chapel C.M.E. for many years.
She also enjoyed sewing, listening to Blues music, dancing, doing word search puzzles, and was an amazing cook! Oh, how she loved music! And she loved to talk. Her mother used to say, "If you don't want to hear the truth, then don't go talk to Mary Belle, cuz she will tell you exactly what she thinks!"
Left behind to cherish her memory are her 2 sons Archie Smith Jr. and William Carl Smith, both of Columbia; sisters-in-law: Lorene Smith of Lee's Summit, Frances Smith of St. Louis, and Linda Washington of Columbia; brother-in-law Carl Smith of St. Louis; brother-in-law, David Williams of Columbia; 2 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her brother John William Brown; sisters: Alma Fern Richardson, Zelma Pearl Williams, Linda Mae Brown; daughter-in-law Jeannie Smith; and one grandson.
Friends will be received from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 6, 2025, at Parker-Millard Funeral Service with a funeral service to follow at 11:00 at the funeral home. Interment will take place following the funeral service at Memorial Park Cemetery. No Repass will take place per her wishes and I quote "We don't need all that food to go to waste, it can go to people who need it.
Memorials may be made in her honor to Russell Chapel C.M.E. Food Pantry.
Arrangements are under the direction of Parker-Millard Funeral Service & Crematory, 12 E. Ash St., Columbia, Missouri 65203. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.parkermillard.com