Maxine Smith

Maxine Smith of Tuscaloosa passed away Tuesday, November 12, 2019. Services will be Friday, November 15, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. at Ridgecrest Baptist Church with Rev. Curtis Kelley, Rev. Jim Headly, and Rev. David Mills officiating. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service at the church. Burial will follow at Memory Hill Gardens.  Maxine Smith was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Smith, her in-laws Annie Web Kelly, Jimmy Smith, J.W. Smith & Annie Smith, her parents Thomas & Shelby Key and her brother, Tommy Key.  Survivors include son Rush Smith (Diane), daughter Carol Barnette (Ed), sister Jean Nicholson, sister in-law, Sarah Smith and Tammy Slater. Grandchildren include Alisa Sanders (Wayne), Clay Mathews (Mary Kathryn), Kent Mathews (Mary Katherine), Tanya Webster (Matt) and Jason Barnette (Liz).  Great grandchildren include Blake, Lexi, Kasen, Oliver, Eliza, Mary Martin, Owen, Madi, Presley, Lillie, Addison, Hannah, Drew and Levi. And dearly loved cousins, nieces, nephews and a whole host of cherished friends of all ages. Pallbearers include Ed Barnette, Wayne Sanders, Steve Keith, Mike Harris, Sam Hicks, Tray Wingo, Rodgers Wilson, Mike Lovejoy, Eddie Lary and Don Poole.  Honorary Pallbearers are past and present members of Ridgecrest Baptist Church, members of her Sunday school class at Ridgecrest Baptist Church, her contemporaries at Life of Georgia Insurance Company, employees of The Rug Gallery, her Meadowlake neighborhood "family", Hospice of West Alabama and all of her nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Ridgecrest Baptist Church or Hospice of West Alabama.  Maxine Key Smith, our mother, to paraphrase the song, went to "Rest high on that mountain, Her work on Earth was done She went to Heaven singing She loved the Father and the Son" Hers was a life of total commitment.  She was committed to Jesus, family and her friends.  She loved unconditionally.  Mother's ministry, love and commitment had immeasurable influence on decades and generations of people. Mother loved Howard and together they touched countless lives through love, faith and generosity.  We all know what a pair they were.  She honestly tried her best to teach him how to find the mayonnaise and T.V. remote.  She had that sense of humor and was not beyond calling an Atlanta Braves batter that struck out "Stupid." Mother loved to laugh and bring laughter and joy to everyone's life.  She was known as Mother, Moms, Mawmaw, Maxine and "Mac." No matter the name, there was her beautiful face, her uplifting spirit, her Christian strength and a presence beyond description and again her commitment. Mother loved music and one of our memories is of her singing in a trio at Ridgecrest Baptist Church.  The song that stands out is "So Send I You."  In the chorus Jesus says, "As the Father hath sent me, So, send I You."  This describes her life and commitment to her faith perfectly.  I can hear her ask us now to please take that line to heart and to continue her ministry.   Amen Mother, we all love you!