Merlene McGowan Smith, 90, of 33 Barton Street, Blakely, GA, passed away peacefully at her home today, May 23, 2018.Her funeral will be Wednesday, May 30, 2018, at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Dwight Bishop officiating.The family will receive friends for visitation Tuesday, May 29, 2018 from 6-8 p.m. at Manry Jordan Hodges Funeral Home.Burial will be in the Blakely Cemetery with nephews and great nephews serving as pallbearers.She was a member of the First United Methodist Church and also a volunteer at the clothes closet.She retired as Office Manager for Amoco Oil Company.
Mrs. Smith was born to the late Siree McGowan and Minnie Merle Murphy McGowan Faile.Other than her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Emmett Smith, a son, Jimmy Smith.
Her survivors include her daughter Sandra Smith Sanders and Charles of Norcross, GA; two grandsons, Justin Lane and Marianna of Marietta, GA and William Lane and Emily of Dunwoody, GA and also, 6 great-grandchildren; Emma Catherine, Annabelle Grace, Myles Brunson, Davis Emmett, George Emmett and Natalia Eleni Lane.