Essie Mae Smith Essie Mae Smith, 80, a homemaker, died Thursday, Dec. 18, 2003. The service will be at 11 a.m. EST Saturday at Rockhill Missionary Baptist Church, with the Rev. Michael T. Williams officiating. Burial will be at the church cemetery. The funeral cortege will assemble at 10:15 a.m. EST Saturday at 6232 Proctor Road.Viewing will be from 3 to 8 p.m. EST Friday at Richardson's Family Funeral Care (878-4144), 101 E. Fourth Ave. A native of Tallahassee, she was a member of Rockhill Missionary Baptist Church, where she was a devoted member of the choir. She was a member of Valentine Lodge No. 8. Survivors include four daughters, Betty Whitaker (and husband Crosby), Rosa Manning (and husband Roy), Pauline Washington McNeil (and husband Willie) and Caretha Williams (and husband Kevin), all of Tallahassee; nine sons, James Smith, Fred Smith Sr., Willie Smith (and wife Deborah), Harold Smith and John Smith, all of Tallahassee, Herbert Smith Jr. of Atlanta, Roosevelt Smith (and wife Brenda) of Killeen, Texas, Nathaniel Smith Sr. (and wife Eyvonne) of Hopkins, S.C., and Earnest Smith Sr. (and wife Mary) of Clarksville, Tenn.; 23 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; six sisters, Reather Paul, Ernestine Brown and Lilla Ford, all of Tallahassee, Lucinda Whitehead of Silver Spring, Md., and Rebecca Peak and Clara Thomas, both of St. Petersburg; a brother, James Brown Jr. of Tallahassee; seven sisters-in-law, Edna Brown, Mae Ethel Thomas, Dorothy Johnson, Eddie Mae Johnson, Annie Ruth Smith, Terrie Johnson and Bridgett Johnson; four brothers-in-law, Roscoe Thomas Sr., Walter Johnson, Willis Graham and Wilbur Johnson; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.After 39 years of marriage, her husband, Herbert, preceded her in death on Oct. 31, 1985. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Rosa Lee Graham.