Mary Lee Smith

Mary Lee Smith departed this life on August 20, 2019 at RI Hospital after a long illness.

She was born November 2, 1947 in Charlottesville, VA to the late William M. Smith and Maybelle (Swingler) Smith.

Mary was educated in the Providence School System and graduated from Hope High School and RI College with a BA in Urban Studies.  She was an Administrative Assistant and Grant Writer at Oasis International until recently when her health would no longer allow her to do so.

Mary was a true child of the Sixties social activism movement and continued that work throughout her life.   She was an active voice in her community and in the local politics of Providence.   Mary was a former member of the Providence School Committee, the RI Board of Education, Black Political Outreach Committee, the 11th Ward Committee, and the Public Health Safety Advisory Committee and helped launch the South Providence Neighborhood Association and served on its leadership team.  

She was predeceased by her sister Brenda Winston.

Mary Lee Smith is survived by two sons Theodore Smith (Natalina) and Moriba Smith (Kendra), four grandchildren Kali Smith of Providence, Kalasia Smith of North Carolina, Deja Clark and Nadia Smith of New Hampshire, two sisters, Maxine Smith, Eva Simmons (Victor), one brother William (Taha) Smith.   She will also be remembered by many nieces, nephews, Virginia cousins, other family and friends.

She will be missed by all who knew her.

“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments but what is woven into the lives of others.”

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