Marcia (“Marcy”) Elizabeth Martin Smith, 65, lifelong resident of Oxford, died peacefully at home surrounded by her family on March 23, 2023, after a short battle with cancer. Marcy was born February 16, 1958, in Anniston. Her father led a Boy Scout troup and her mother a Girl Scout troup, and Marcy was included in all of it, along with her four siblings. They camped and cooked and farmed and crafted, and she grew up to be skilled at many things, practical, and resourceful. Marcy graduated Oxford High School in 1976, having proudly served in the OHS Marching Band. She loved her flute, and she loved the comradery of the band. After high school, Marcy studied bookkeeping at Ayers Technical Institute, and after a series of warming-up positions, she launched her own successful bookkeeping service. While working toward this, Marcy happened onto her lifelong friend Mark Smith, and it was apparent to all that these two should have always been together. She married her “miracle” almost 36 happy years ago. Marcy loved to sing from birth and did so at every opportunity, from traveling songs with her family to on-stage duets with her husband to the church choir, first at Anniston’s Carpenter United Methodist Church where her parents and grandparents attended, then at Oxford First Methodist Church where her own family found their church home. She also played in the church’s handbell choir, which she thoroughly enjoyed, and was a valued member of the cooking team for church events. Everyone was happy when Marcy was in the kitchen, and Marcy treasured being there. She was blessed with three beautiful children, Matthew, Samantha, and Kyle, and she was a strong and supportive mother, as they clearly evident. Possibly her proudest achievement, however, was to finally acquire the title Grandmom, and her eight grandchildren became her primary concern. Watching each of them run to her was always certain to make you smile.
Marcy was preceded in death by her mother Martus Elizabeth (Grant) Martin and her father Vester Mandiver Martin, Jr. She is survived by her husband Mark Smith, her children Benjamin Matthew Keener (Angela), Samantha Elizabeth Blanchet (Kevin), and Kyle Alan Smith (Katie); her grandchildren Benjamin, Jasmine, Owen and Isabelle Keener, James and Kayleigh Blanchet, and Sebastian and Liliana Smith; her siblings Mandiver Martin (Sharon), Mark Martin, Michelle Collum (Kyle), and Michael Martin (Tracey); and many much-loved nieces, nephews and cousins.
A Memorial Service honoring Marcy will be held on Friday, April 7, 2023, at 11:00am, with family visitation at 10:00am, at Oxford First United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Marcy’s name to American Cancer Society.
