Shirley Jean Smith, 87 of Columbus, MS passed away Monday, January 8, 2024, at Windsor Place, Columbus, MS.

Visitation will be Friday, January 12, 2024, from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM at Lowndes Funeral Home, Columbus, MS.  Mrs. Smith will lie in state one hour before the funeral service on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at 1:00 PM with Bro. Robert Moore officiating.  Interment will be in Memorial Gardens, Columbus, MS with Lowndes Funeral Home directing.

Mrs. Smith was born February 15, 1936, in Martin, TN to the late Gay Arthur Hester and Helen Mary Brown Hester.  She moved to Columbus in 1962 and made Lowndes County her home for the past 61 years.  Mrs. Smith was a member of Calvary Baptist Church for 60 plus years where she was a Sunday School teacher for the Home Makers Sunday School Class, she was involved with Vacation Bible School,  a member of the choir and various activities.  She worked for the City of Columbus as a meter maid for 4 years and provided childcare in her home for 22 years.  In addition to her parents, Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by her husband – James O. Smith; sisters – Gail Lynn Gilmore, Nancy Crenshaw, and Elizabeth Anne Bowens and brothers – James Michael Hester and David Hester.

Mrs. Smith is survived by her daughters – Michele (Tony) Fahhoum, Southaven, MS, Deborah Smith, Fort Lauderdale, FL and Pamela Burns, Powhatan, AR; Brothers - Hardy Hinton Hester, and Arthur Leon Hester; 4 grandchildren – Kayla Shinholt, Holly Novay, Chad Burns and Arian Burns and 4 great-grandchildren – Braxton, Roman, Sammi, and Bobbi.

Pallbearers will be Tony Fahhoum, Chad Burns, Kenny Crenshaw, David Hester, Bryan Hester, Hardy Hester and Ryan McKinstry; Honorary pallbearers will be Steven Hester, Chuck Hester, Art Hester and Michael Crenshaw.

Memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 295 Dowdle Drive, Columbus, MS 39702.