Sara "Mae" Graves Smith

Sara "Mae" Graves Smith, 90, of Ripley, Mississippi, passed away October 11, 2023, at Sunshine Health Care in Pontotoc, Mississippi. She was born on March 25, 1933, to William Henry Graves and Lessie Mae Martin Graves in Ripley, Mississippi. Mae graduated as Valedictorian of the Class of 1951 from Palmer High School in Tippah County. After graduation she completed business and secretarial courses in preparation for her work as a clerk at the Tippah County Courthouse where she met her future husband. She married Roy W. Smith on February 14, 1957, in Ripley. They lived in Tupelo for 20 years where they raised their two daughters. While in Tupelo, her family was active at East Heights Baptist Church where she taught in the children and youth departments for many years. She held leadership roles in PTA at her daughters' schools and served as a Girl Scout Leader. Mae worked alongside her husband in animal health care and veterinary supplies sales for more than 40 years. In the early 1980s, they returned to Tippah County, living first in Blue Mountain and then in Ripley in the Carter family homeplace. They were active members of Lowrey Memorial Baptist Church where Mae continued teaching children's Sunday School. She was a member of the Thursday Women's Club in Blue Mountain and was employed at The Peoples Bank in Ripley for several years. She was an avid gardener, a gifted seamstress, and enjoyed home design. She had a heart of service and caring for others. Mae is survived by her children, Debbie Wiley of Tupelo and Jane Floyd (Terry) of Ripley; her grandchildren Matt Wiley (Kendall), Katherine Dendy (Cullen), Preston Wiley (Rachel), all of Tupelo, and Ben Floyd (Rachael) of Hattiesburg; her great grandchildren Ellanore, Holt, and Lynnlee Wiley, Carter, Emma, and Charlotte Dendy, Robert and Jack Wiley, all of Tupelo, and Joshua, Gilead, and Mayhew Floyd of Hattiesburg; and her step-brothers, Jimmie Covington of Memphis and Tommy Covington of Ripley. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years in 2015; her parents, and her son-in-law, Bob Wiley. Pallbearers will be Matt Wiley, Preston Wiley, Ben Floyd, Cullen Dendy, Dr. Norris Howell, Jack Woods. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wier’s Chapel % Tommy Covington, 306 North Main Street, Ripley, MS 38663, or Blue Mountain Baptist Church (Lowrey Memorial) Building Fund, P. O. Box 216, Blue Mountain, MS 38610.

Sara "Mae" Graves Smith

March 25, 1933 - October 11, 2023