Jimmie G. Smith, 83, of Fort Payne, Alabama, passed away March 30, 2021. She was born in Marietta, Mississippi on April 7, 1937 to Samuel Frank Gardner and Lema Mae Gatlin Gardner. Jimmie married Donald G. Smith October 11, 1967. They enjoyed over 50 years of married life until he passed away February 2, 2018. They always loved to take road trips together seeing new sights and visiting friends and family. Throughout their marriage they lived in a number of states including California, Florida, Colorado and Alabama. She is survived by her son Randall Brisendine and wife Kathy, son Donald Smith and wife Debbie, son Robert Smith and wife Lea Ann; daughter Becky Adams and husband Todd; brother Ruble Ray Gardner and her sister Dorothy Wilks. Grandchildren Jason, Rebecca, Kevin, Samantha, Amanda, Anthony, Pepper, Roberta, Hanah, Emily, and Lauren; and great-grandchildren Riley, Paige, Zoe, Ivy, Kate, Reina,
Tristen, Keoni, and Leim. She was predeceased by her parents, brothers Kyle Stanley Gardner, Samuel C O Gardner, Joel Jerome Gardner and sisters Juanita Cox, Maxola Crow, and Greta Robertson. Jimmie was a graduate of Fort Payne High School. She studied business and accounting at Gulf Coast College in FL and Orange Coast College in CA. She began her career at GE in Huntsville, AL; for many years, she was a Federal Government employee working at the Mine Defense Lab in Panama City Beach
FL, Eglin AFB in Fort Walton Beach, FL, and Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville AL; additionally, after relocating to Southern California, she worked a number of years in the private sector including several years at Grumman Aerospace Corporation. Jimmie enjoyed many hobbies, she was an excellent cook, took interest in gardening, sewing, quilting, crochet, and needlepoint. Early in their marriage she and Don belonged to a Square-Dancing group. During retirement she took up Line Dancing and learned how to play mah jong. Jimmie loved her family. She loved spending time with all of them. Grandkids were her heart and soul! Once she retired, she and Don moved to Oceanside, CA to be closer to their daughter, son-in-law and their two granddaughters. There they spent many birthdays and holidays celebrating together with extended family and volunteered often to babysit or just have a play date!
In 2016 Jimmie and Don moved back to Fort Payne to return to her childhood hometown and spend their remaining years near their son, daughter-in-law, grandson, his wife and their two great granddaughters. They really treasured the time they spent together. Jimmie will remain forever in our hearts, until we meet again! A wife, a mother, a grandmother too, this is the legacy we have from you. You taught us to love and how to fight, you gave us strength, you gave us might. A stronger person would be hard to find, and in your heart, you were always kind. You fought for us all in one way or another. You gave your best, now the time has come for you to rest. So go in peace, you’ve earned your sleep. Your love in our hearts, we will eternally keep.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
