Annette Brent Smith, 77, passed away Monday, October 15th, 2018, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Columbus, Mississippi and has gone to be with her Lord, Jesus Christ.

Visitation will be 9 to 11 AM at First Baptist Church of Starkville, Mississippi on Friday October 19th, 2018, with the funeral service immediately following. Services will be conducted by Rev. Chip Stevens, Rev. Clifton Curtis, and Dr. Mike Barnett. Burial to follow at Richland Cemetery at 3:30 p.m. on Cleary Road in Richland, Mississippi.

A native of Strong Hope, Mississippi, and long-time resident of Starkville, Mississippi. Annette was a grade school teacher for over 25 years and taught 6th grade Sunday School at First Baptist Church for over 27 years. She lived to serve her church, family, community and always had a generous heart for any child. She was well known for her kindness, generosity and selflessness.
Annette was a mother to two boys of her own, but countless young men knew her as Momma Smith and would hug her neck as they sat down for a hot breakfast after a cold morning in the woods. Her love of being a mother was only surpassed when she became a grandmother or “Gigi” which has been her name for 12 wonderful years now. Her spare time was filled with making afghans for newly born nieces and nephews, quilting, gardening, cooking, working in her numerous flowerbeds, hand writing notes for all occasions- especially birthdays, and always anything that was needed for “Gigi” duty! In her later years she found great joy traveling to her grandsons’ practices, games, and school events. All of the children on her grandsons’ baseball teams called her Gigi and knew that she would have an encouraging word, snack and drink for them. Parents and players knew that Gigi would have her notebook out double checking the umpire’s score to make sure they didn’t mistakenly take a run away from her team!

Annette is preceded in death by her father, Floyd Victor Brent Sr., mother, Melissa Mae Brent, brother, Floyd Victor Brent, Jr., and sister, Donnis Brent Matthews.

She is survived by her husband of 48 years, David Bernard Smith, son, Allan Livingston Smith (Erin), son, Nathan Bryant Smith (Ashley), grandsons, Major and Knox Smith and Braxton Rea, brothers, Kenneth Ray Brent, Cecil Paul Brent, John Edward Brent, sister, Dale Brent Granger and numerous nieces and nephews.

In place of flowers, the Smith family request that donations be made to Children’s Building at First Baptist Church of Starkville, Mississippi, 106 East Lampkin Street, Starkville, MS 39759 662-323-5633.