Avis de décès de Mildred-McGee Smith - Nécrologie - MesAieux.com

SMITH, Mildred McGee (formerly Pratt and Kerr) "Do not go gentle into that good nightrage, rage against the light." - Dylan Thomas After a prolonged & spirited challenge against the inevi-table, Mildred M. Smith fin-ally chose to concede and quietly slipped away earlier this year at the age of 93. As one of 6 children born to Etta and Joel McGee in rural North Carolina, Mildred grew up during the Great Depression and developed a dogged determination to better her station in life. With her trademark red hair plus conversational, writing, artistic, culinary, seamstress, and financial skills, she consistently attempted to personify and maintain a Southern Cultured Way of Life as she perceived it once was and should forever be. A resident of the Tampa area since 1954, Mildred originally lived in Seminole Heights and was a longtime member of Seminole Heights Methodist Church. In 1976, she moved to the Lake Magdalene area, then in 1997 to University Village Retirement Center where she became a member of New Tampa Baptist Church. Professionally, Mildred was a longtime employee at Whatley Roofing and Sheet Metal, and also active in the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), once serving as President of the Tampa chapter. Always a con-cerned activist, she also served voluntarily on var-ious civic and residential committees throughout her life. Outliving both parents and siblings, Carl, Pauline, Clyde, Norvard, and Patsy by many years, Mildred was also predeceased by hus-bands Andrew Jackson (Jack) Pratt, William Ralph Kerr, and Donald Gary (Don) Smith. She is sur-vived by her only child, David Andrew (Dave) Pratt and wife, Barbara, grand-son, Brenton Pratt, and great-granddaughter, Alexis Pratt of Hillsborough County; stepson, Gary Smith Hill and wife, Beverly, step-grandson, Jeremy Hill, wife, Kathryn, and their son, Asher Hill; plus step-granddaughter, Amy Pope and husband, Stephen of Palm Beach County. Also stepson, Edward Markham (Mark) Smith, former wife, Carol Tallada and husband, Fred, plus step-granddaughter, Tavi Cooley, her son, Landon, and her daughter, Emma of Charlotte County. In addition, she is survived by sisters-in-law, Ossie McGee of San Diego, CA and Mady Smith of Columbia, SC; members of the Matchell, Jones, and Smith families in Florida; Davis, O'Neal, Strickland, and Hopkins families in North Carolina; plus numerous other nieces, nephews and friends, both locally and throughout America. The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to doctors Laura Cruse (and Trish), James Smith (and Bonnie), Kenneth Yamamura, Patricia Cueto-Lithgow, and Claudio Bocado, plus Florida Hospital Tampa and Fletcher Pharmacy for their efforts in Mildred's quest for longevity. Additionally, doctors, Stephanie Baldwin, Leonard Cortelli, William Robinson, and Brian Zebrowski for their sup-plemental care which enhanced her life; plus in-home services received through Medi Home Health, Comprehensive Health Care, and Gentiva Health Services. Thanks also to Debbie Hallman of Hair Designs by Debbie for years of maintaining her signature red hair; and Mildred's attorney Gerald Stead. A special note of gratitude is due for the entire staff at University Village Retirement Center (espec-ially Pat Hunter, Erica Givens, Tim Parker, Rick Keeley, Jeanette Poole, and SunTrust Bank), and, of course, the gratifying friendship and support of so many fellow UV resi-dents living there with her. Also, in recent years, the occasional services of the Nursing Center at University Village and its staff (especially Kathia, Safran, Melodie, Dorothy, Marcia, LaDean, Shawn, Louvenia, and Nicole) plus the UVNC physical therapists. The efforts of the entire University Village community helped Mildred maintain a sense of presti-gious living during her final 16 years, plus most impor-tantly, further validated her feeling of triumph over a rural Southern farm girl beginning left far behind as she created and refined the unique personality we all came to know. A memorial service is tentatively planned for the future at University Village in Tampa. Details will appear in a later Sunday edition of the Tampa Tribune.