Mabel J. Smith

Mabel Jones Smith went home to be with the Lord on April 2, 2025. Mabel was the daughter of the late James Jones, Sr. and Elsie Barbour Jones Harris. Mabel was born on March 24, 1931, in Charles City, Virginia. Mabel was preceded in death by her loving husband Hermon E. Smith, Sr., her daughter Lil Miss Gay Smith, and siblings, Charlie Jones and Herbert Harris.

She received Christ at an early age and she loved the Lord, her family, friends, and Parrish Hill Baptist church where she served for over 70 years. She was a devoted member of the Parrish Hill Baptist Church Senior Choir and served in various capacities. She would arrive to church ready to sing praises to the Lord with her beloved choir members every first Sunday. When she could no longer attend church, she would listen to the service every Sunday morning on the radio and sing with the choirs in her favorite chair at the kitchen table.

Mabel attended Ruthville High School and was a member of the Extension Agent Home Cooking, Sewing and Gardening Club. During her younger years, she was a member of the Civic League and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

She devoted her life to helping families whether it was through her profession or as a member of the Parrish Hill community. Her kind and caring spirit will live on through the memories of those she fed, clothed, and cared for within her immediate family and within the neighborhood. She appreciated and often looked forward to sitting on the porch to receive visitors after Sunday services. Sitting on the porch afforded her the opportunity to view the fruits of her labor as she would marvel at her flower garden. She loved flowers and their displayed beauty. When she could no longer attend to her flower garden, many family members and friends would bring her flowers.

She is survived by her children, Maxine (Robert, Sr.) Bradby of Quinton, Virginia; Hermon (Pele) Smith, Jr. of James City, Virginia, Laverne (Walter) Harris of Charles City, Virginia and Yvonne (Michael) Smith-Jones of Charles City, Virginia; three grandchildren, Shannon (Shedrick, Jr.) McCall of Chesterfield, Virginia and Brandi (Latrell) Scott of Fulton, Maryland and Ghrestawin (Carol) Salamo of Newport News, Virginia and two great-grandchildren, Madison and Chase; siblings: brothers, James Jones, Jr., Alfred (Dawn) Harris, and Howard Harris and sister-in-laws: Corrine Battle, Bettie Jones, Jacqueline Watkins, and Nancy Harris all of Charles City, Virginia; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Mabel was a loving wife, devoted mother, caring grandmother and great grandmother, nurturing aunt, warm-hearted cousin, faithful friend, and generous neighbor. She was a person of unwavering faith and strength who lived a humble and quiet life. For over 50 years, Mary Ann Adkins, Kim Banks, Robin Bradby, Hattie Brooks, Florence Brown, Joyce Brown, Nathaniel Brown, and Florence Snead never missed a special day to visit Mabel to offer tokens of love and special prayers.  For more than 80 years, Mabel enjoyed the special friendship of her devoted cousin Ernestine Bassett. Mabel was a light to all who knew and loved her.

A viewing will be held from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Friday, April 11, 2025 at Wilson & Associates' Funeral Service - East Chapel, 5008 Nine Mile Rd., Richmond, VA.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at Parrish Hill Baptist Church, 12401 John Tyler Memorial Hwy., Charles City, VA. 

Interment will follow in Parrish Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family is receiving services of comfort from Wilson & Associates' Funeral Service - East Chapel, 5008 Nine Mile Rd., Richmond, VA.