Nellie Smith

Nellie Smith, age 91 of Gulfport, passed away on Thursday, December 10, 2020.

Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by her husband, Technical Sergeant (Retired USAF) Orvis L. Smith; her parents, Robert F. Lee, and Myrtle Chadwick Lee Rester; her siblings, Adolph Lee, Hazel Smith Spataro, and Margie Seals.

She is survived by her son, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired U.S. Army) Jerry W. Smith and wife Kansas of Gulfport; her daughter, Donna Smith Miller and fiancé Rick Myrick of Gulfport; her granddaughter, Katherine “Katie” Key and husband Captain Joshua Key (USAF) of Colorado Springs, CO; her siblings, Gladys Hauk, Arlon Lee, Betty Hickman, Beatrice Lee, Robert A. Lee (Slim), Garry (Shorty) Lee, and Dianne Stewart; and her many nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was a lifelong member of Grace Memorial Baptist Church and participated in the activities of the Inspirations Senior Adult group for many years. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Handsboro Chapter #374 and later Long Beach Chapter #51; she traveled throughout Mississippi as a Grand Page to the Worthy Grand Patron and attended the Georgia Grand Chapter with her husband while he was the Grand Representative to Georgia.

In her early years as a military wife, she and Orvis were stationed in the Azores Islands. While there, a favorite memory was touring Germany and Austria and providing entertainment events with the NCO Wives Club. Mrs. Smith enjoyed participating in the lives of her children and granddaughter. She took great pride in the accomplishments of her son during his “growing up” years playing baseball and football and often spoke of his winning touchdown in high school and his military career. She supported her daughter through participation in the Gulfport High School Admiral Band Booster Club, chaperoned many band trips, and sewed many drum major and color guard uniforms. Her granddaughter was the “apple of her eye” and Mrs. Smith did not miss any of choir concerts, dance recitals, or theater productions. She was a great cook, seamstress, all around great wife, mother, Granny, sister, and friend.

The family would like to thank the staff at Brookdale Assisted Living for lovingly caring for Mrs. Smith these last few weeks; Kare in Home Health nurses and therapists, especially Mike, her physical therapist; and the physicians and nurses at Memorial Hospital and the University of South Alabama Medical Center.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 15, 2020, at RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, Gulfport, from 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm. Services will begin at 2:00 pm in the funeral home chapel. Burial will follow at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts in Mrs. Smith’s name to the Joppa Shriners Transportation Fund, Shriner’s Hospitals, or the Wounded Warriors.