Mertice Parmer Smith

Mertice Parmer Smith of Long Beach and Poplarville, MS passed away peacefully on July 17, 2023.

Born February 2, 1926, in Blue Springs, Alabama, Mertice was the only child of LL Blakey and Ollie Riley Blakey, a hardworking farming family.

Mertice married James Preston Parmer at 17 and had three children.  They moved multiple times, eventually settling in Long Beach in 1952.  Mertice was the cafeteria manager for the Long Beach School District for 10 years, during which time she became a widow and was a devoted, single, working mother.

She married Thomas Wesley Smith in 1962.  They moved to Poplarville in 1969, where they built a successful real estate business and were part of a wonderful close-knit community.  She was a faithful member of Juniper Grove Baptist church.

Mertice, known lovingly as Granny by family and friends, was a true example of faith.  She never let her hard upbringing stop her positivity and outlook on life.  She loved the Lord, reading her Bible, writing every day’s events in a journal, visiting over a cup of coffee or sweet tea, crosswords, crafting, cooking up a mess of food to fill not only your stomach but your heart, meeting people and making immediate friends, and spending every day telling her children and grandchildren how much she loved them and how proud they made her. 

Mertice is survived by her three devoted children, Phyllis Parmer Cowman and Beverly Parmer Carver (Bruce) of Long Beach and Larry Parmer (Kay) of Seminary, Mississippi.  Her beautiful life will forever be cherished through the lives of her grandchildren, Bruce Carver Jr. (Denise), Kelli Carver, Michael Warren (Amanda), Josh Cowman (Tiffany), Larri Fagan (Joey) and great–grandchildren, Ty Stewart, Bryce and Brianna Carver, Kinleen Fagan, Felicity Cowman, Alyssa Warren and Ethan Parttett.  She is proceeded in death by her parents and her two husbands. 

Mertice was blessed with so many people who helped care for her in her golden years, including Christian and her long-time faithful caregiver and friend Keri.  The family would like to thank the staff of Your Choice Senior Care, especially Jessyka, the staff at Kare-in-Home/Vital Care Hospice, Christine Ladner and Aryn Robinson, and the staff and residents at The Claiborne.

Funeral services will be held at Riemann Family Funeral Home, 19130 Commission Road, Long Beach, MS on Wednesday, July 19, 2923.  Visitation will be held from 10:30 am – 11:30 am, and service is at 11:30 am, with interment to follow at Long Beach Cemetery.