Avis de décès de Ellen Smith - Nécrologie - MesAieux.com

ELLEN ELIZABETH "BETTY" PHYFER SMITH1925-2008Ellen Elizabeth "Betty" Phyfer Smith, age 83, passed away peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 7, 2008 at a hospice facility in Pensacola, FL. She was the only child of Dr. Edwin Lawson and Ellen Rush Phyfer born January 7, 1925 in Greenville, MS. She graduated from Greenville High School and married WWII veteran Paul Faison Smith in 1946, remaining happily married for 48 years. While raising four children she attended Delta State University where she received her Bachelors, Masters, and Specialists degrees in the field of education. She taught English in the public schools of Greenville and later became a guidance counselor at St. Joseph Catholic School. After her husband retired, they relocated to Yazoo City, Mississippi where she was employed with the Mississippi State Department of Education as a Psychometrist. Later she became Director of Special Education for the Yazoo City Public School System. When her husband passed away in 1994, she moved to Madison, Mississippi where she enjoyed volunteering for her church and community. She was a life-long Methodist, attending Trinity UMC in Greenville, First Methodist in Yazoo City, and Madison UMC in Madison MS. She enjoyed fellowship and volunteering in various programs throughout her adult years. She especially enjoyed the Cursillo movement in Mississippi. She was a gentle and sweet lady and was a great listener to people of all ages.Her favorite job was that of a high school guidance counselor, helping young people and listening to parents. She was known as "Mrs. Smile" to children in the Good Shepherd Program she volunteered for in Yazoo City.In 2003, she moved to Pensacola, Florida to be near her daughter and lived at Sterling House Assisted Living Facility.Her parents, husband, one son, Lawson Mottley Smith, PhD, and daughter-in-law, Rachel Smith, preceded her in death.She is survived by daughter Ellen Smith Earles and husband George Earles, III of Pensacola; son, Stephen Smith Phyfer and wife Angela Beasley Phyfer of Madison; daughter, Amy Smith Duhon and husband John Sabray Duhon of Mandeville, Louisiana; brother-in-law, David Smith; sister-in-law, Jeannie Smith, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was lovingly known as "Gram" to her grandchildren: Nathan Earles, David Earles, Joshua Smith, Brantley Smith, Sally Duhon, Elizabeth Duhon, Zoe Phyfer and Samuel Phyfer.The family would like to say a special thanks to Sterling House Assisted Living Facility for loving "Miss Ellen" with five years of compassionate care. A special thanks also goes to Covenant Hospice Residence for taking wonderful care of her. The family would also like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Mcllwain Presbyterian Church as her church away from home by supporting her with love, visits, and prayers.Ellen was a woman of faith in God, loved her country, and believed in the importance of education. She had an educator's heart and invested her time in the lives of others.Memorial service will be held at McIlwain Presbyterian Church on Friday, October 10, 2008 at 10:30 a.m.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the West Florida Memory Disorder Clinic, 8383 N. Davis Hwy, Pensacola, FL 32514, or Covenant Hospice, 5041 N. 12th Ave., Pensacola, FL, 32504.