Mary Smith

Mary Smith, 99, of Savannah, TN was welcomed into eternity Wednesday, February 4, 2026. She was born on August 17, 1926, in Haleyville, AL to the late Leonard & Lena Watts Canida. A service honoring her life will be held at 11:00 am Monday, February 9, 2026, at Magnolia Funeral Home – East with interment in Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church. Visitation will be from 10:00 am to 11:00 am Monday, February 9, 2026, at Magnolia Funeral Home – East. Greg Woodruff will officiate the service. Honorary pallbearers include Chris Smith, Holden Owen, Caden Owen, Bryson Smith, Jayden Smith, and Rickey Parrish.

Mary’s love was stitched into every corner of her world. Mary had a gift for taking the ordinary and turning it into something beautiful—whether it was a simple meal, a quiet moment, or a quilt made by hand and heart. Her quilts weren’t just blankets; they were stories, memories, and pieces of herself.

Mary loved people, and she loved them in the most practical, generous ways. If you ever visited her home, you didn’t leave hungry—she simply wouldn’t allow it. Her kitchen was a place of warmth, laughter, and second helpings. Her life revolved around Ray, her beloved husband. Their bond was steady and sure, a partnership built on devotion, shared routines, and a deep affection that shaped every day they spent together. To know Mary was to know how much she loved Ray, and how much of her heart she poured into caring for him and building a life by his side.

Mary also cherished her church community. She loved church socials and singings—those gatherings where fellowship, food, and music came together in the sweetest way.

In her later years, Mary found comfort in knowing that her great-great-granddaughters worked at the nursing home where she lived. It meant the world to her to be surrounded by family, to see the next generations carrying forward the same spirit of care and service that she embodied. Their presence brought her pride, reassurance, and a sense of continuity—her legacy living on right before her eyes.

Those left to honor her memory include her son, Donnie Smith; daughters, Teresa Avery (John) and Mary Turner (Euell) and a host of grandchildren, and great grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 11 years, Willie Ray Smith; sons, Robert E. Smith, James E. Smith, Gary W. Smith, and Terry L. Smith. Magnolia Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mrs. Mary Smith.