Abigail Smith

Abigail "Abby" Nicole Smith died Aug. 2, from injuries suffered in an automobile accident near her home in Killeen, Texas. She was 27.
Abby was born on July 24, 1992 in Gulfport and grew up in Santa Rosa, Calif., and Gold Canyon, Arizona, before returning to Mississippi to finish high school, graduating from Harrison Central High School in 2010.
After graduating high school, Abby worked in customer service and the restaurant industry. She loved to travel and was an avid animal lover, especially cats and, yes, possums.
She loved music and traveling to gem shows and Rainbow Gatherings.
Firm in her beliefs, fierce in her loyalties, a formidable foe to her adversaries and unwavering in her pursuits, Abby never spent a moment conforming to the image of what others expected her to be. She had the courage to be her authentic self, living life on her own terms, even when pain and suffering were the consequences.
Those experiences, both good and bad, created in her an empathy that knew no race, class or any of the other distinctions that separate people. She moved easily in all circles, laughing and telling stories, comforting those in pain, challenging those who inflicted pain. She had a quick wit and a native intelligence that gave weight to her words.
Abby touched and influenced the lives of all she met and remains vibrantly, outrageously, alive in the memories of those she loved and loved her in return.
Abby is survived by her fiance', Josh McLemore, originally of Long Beach; her mother, Susan Kennedy Wildin and her stepfather, Richard, both of Saucier; her father, Slim Smith of Columbus and his partner, Tess Mason; her brother, Corey Smith, of Saucier; her maternal grandmother, Elaine Kennedy of Gulfport; her aunts, Rachel Singley (Gerry), of McHenry; Beth Kennedy of Gulfport and her fiance Gene Fayard;  Barb Goltz (Burt) of Gulfport; Dianne Edge (Hal) of Fayetteville, Ark.; uncles Tony "Buddy" Kennedy (Christine) of Gulfport; Stan Smith (Sonya) of Kalamazoo, Mich.; Terry Smith (Jan) of Keller, Texas; Fred Smith of Tupelo: and Mickey Smith (Lela) of Cypress, Texas.
She is also survived by  her cousins Lauren Goltz, Gina Augustine, Emily Langston, Nicholas Rushing, Matthew LaCap, Adam Kennedy, Ian Rushing, Stacey Smith, Kathy Smith, Steven Smith, Dan Smith, Candace Harper, Chad Edge, Alex Smith, Ben Smith, Callie Smith, Garrett Smith, Brianna Smith and Allyson Smith; and her nieces, Grace and Lily, who adored her.
She is preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Roy Kennedy; her paternal grandparents, Fred and Mattie Jewel Smith; her maternal great-grandmother, Mabel Bazor;  and cousins, Christoper Kennedy and Jeff Smith.
The lingering grief we share is tempered by a mantra Abby lived by, one she shared soon before her passing as she commented on a great weekend with Josh that had just come to and end:
"Don't cry because it's over," she wrote. "Smile because it happened."
Our tears, though they are many, will someday give way to smiles.
Abby wouldn't have it any other way.

Xxx

Abby's family extends a special thanks to Pastor Micah Butterfield of Northwood Church in Long Beach, for the comfort he has provided in this painful time.

A celebration of Abby's life will be held Monday, August 12, 2019,  from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Riemann Family Funeral Home, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport.