Mrs. Earmon Smith Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Earmon Jerotha Smith departed this life on Saturday, May 22, 2021, at her home in Saginaw, Michigan. God blessed this wonderful woman, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend with 96 years of life. We pray that God will continue to bless her with a beautiful life in the hereafter. Earmon was born in Attala County, Mississippi on July 11, 1924 to the late LaSalle Cross and Peggy Gladney Cross. Her mother passed away when she was very young and she was raised by her late step mother, Lula Nash Cross. She accepted Christ into her life at an early age at Little Hill Baptist Church. Earmon placed a great value on education. In order to attend high school, she moved away from her country home to live with an Uncle in the city of Kosciusko, Mississippi. She proudly packed the five new dresses that were gifted to her by her oldest brother, Leon Cross. Earmon attended Attala County High Training School, and graduated from Central Mississippi College. She received a teaching certificate and taught at Brooks School, New Garden, Mississippi. She married her childhood sweetheart, J.D. Smith, on June 8, 1944. After J.D. was discharged from the Army, they farmed on land purchased from the Smith family and opened what is believed to be the first Black owned general store in Mississippi. The family moved to Saginaw, Michigan in 1950. She joined the Mount Olive Institutional Missionary Baptist Church. Maintaining her interest in education, she became a Sunday school teacher at Mount Olive. She joined the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) at Martha Longstreet Elementary School—where her children attended school. Earmon eventually became President of the PTA. Mrs. Smith learned to cook at a very early age. Too short to reach the table top, she stood on a flour bin and helped cook homemade biscuits and peach cobblers for her brothers and sisters. She continued her love of cooking after moving to Saginaw, where she was employed at the local YMCA. On December 6, 1982 Earmon was promoted to Food Service Director at the Saginaw YMCA, a position she held until she retired in 1987. Earmon loved her family and friends. The family opened their home and hearts to other family members looking to relocate from the south in search of a better life. She and J.D. built their dream home in 1967. Earmon continued to live in the home after the loss of her husband. She leaves to cherish her memory, three children, Larry (Sherilyn) Smith of Farmington Hills, MI, Cozy (Emma) Smith of Saginaw and Shirley (Hakeem) Holmes of Missouri City, TX; ten grandchildren, Reginald Smith of Oklahoma, Brenda Coburn of Virginia Beach, VA, Sheri (Clarence) Smith-Davis, Oklahoma Darryl (Wendi) Smith of Fishers, IN, Christopher Smith, Oklahoma, Angela Ellis of Greencastle, PA, Shantel (Joel)Hawkins of Pearland, TX, Aaron Smith of Saginaw, MI, Domonique Smith of Saginaw, MI and Anthony Smith of Dallas, TX; 25 great-grandchildren; 16 great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Nevor (Ruby) Cross and L.A. (Dorothy) Cross; two sisters, Jannie (Jesse) Hines and Annie Chestnut-Ward, all of Milwaukee, WI; three sisters-in-law, Ruth Cross and Carmen Cross of Milwaukee, WI, and Effie Cross of Olympia, WA; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Earmon J. Smith was preceded in death by her loving husband of 63 years, J.D. Smith; two sons, Odell Smith and Jules Tyrone Smith; one sister, Isolona Cross; six brothers, Leon Cross, Sherman Cross, Earnest Cross, Amos Cross, Noble Cross and Freddie Cross. Visitation will take place from 2:00-6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 1, 2021 at Evans & Browne's Funeral Home, 441 North Jefferson Avenue, Saginaw, Michigan 48607. The family has elected to have a private ceremony on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. Please join the webcast at 10:50 a.m. Dr. Marvin T. Smith officiate with interment in Forest Lawn Cemetery, 3210 South Washington Avenue, Saginaw, MI 48601.

Mrs. Earmon Smith

July 24, 1924 - May 22, 2021