Jeanie Geneva Smith

January 1, 1941 – May 8, 2025

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day.”

Today we celebrate my life Momma Jeanie Geneva Smith, I was born into this life on January 1, 1941, in Tchula, Mississippi to the late Mr. Wil and Mrs. Elizabeth Hayes. I was the youngest child of 11 children. I accepted Christ and was baptized at an early age.

I attended grade school and high school in Tchula, Mississippi. After high school I attended Beauty School where I graduated and became a Licensed Beautician. After obtaining my Beautician License, I moved to Detroit, Michigan, with one of my older brothers, Rhodolphis Hayes. I found employment at a local Barber Shop where I worked as Beautician and this is where I met and found the love of my life, my very best friend, Arzal Smith aka “Smitty”. On February 4, 1964, we married and of our union we had two children, Myron and Lerrin Smith.

I was a faithful member and Usher of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Sterling L. Jones. In 2004, after 40 years of owning my own Beauty Shop and ready to retire, Smitty and I decided to relocate to Mesa, AZ. We joined Canaan Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Sherman J. Fort. At Canaan, I continue to serve as an Usher and volunteer in several other ministries. I later joined St. John Institutional Baptist Church, where I served as the Women’s Missionary President until my health began to decline.

Throughout my life I absolutely love love love to cook, Smitty and I shared a love for travel; together we have gone on fifteen cruises, visited most of the Caribbean Islands, Hawaii, Alaska, and all over the United States. Fifty-two years of discovering what God, himself declared was good. I enjoyed hosting holiday and family gatherings, family game nights, Sunday Dinners, and more recently I really enjoyed hanging out with my “Golden Girl Sisters” as we were called. Hosting bible studies, traveling with them, even having spa days at times. One of my most meaningful times of the year was celebrating my birthday, since it was on New Years Day, I love hosting and cooking all my favorite meals including baking my own birthday cakes for my family and dear friends. And everyone knows that my parties or gathering must end with us playing lots of game that came with lots of laughter.

I would be remiss if I didn’t share my most meaningful moment and milestone that is when Smitty surprises me and asked me to be his bride again after 50 years. Therefore, on February 16, 2014, Smitty and I renewed our Wedding Vows in a Beautiful Ceremony which this time included all four of our Amazing Grandchildren. Boy, what a time that was, celebrating with all our friends and family from Detroit and lots of our newly found family and friends here in Arizona.

I’m so glad that God gave us this special moment with one another along with our family and friends. As life would have it, early 2016 Smitty would receive a cancer diagnosis and after a short battle Praise the Lord, on August 17, 2016, just two short years after our wedding renewal, God called my very best friend, my soul mate, the best father, grandfather, the best of everything, home to be with Him. A huge part of me left with him that day. I have never lived alone I went from my parents’ home, to my brother Rho’s home, to my husband’s home of 52 years. But you know what God is so good to depend on. I began to navigate through life on my own with the help of the Lord and as God’s plan he sent my oldest child (Myron) back home, what a blessing in disguise. Again, God’s timing.

In 2020 during a doctor visit I was informed that I, too, had a cancer diagnosis. From 2020 to approximately 2022 I was determined to fight this cancer as I knew I had cancer, but cancer did not have me. After approximately two years of fighting, praying, and fasting my test results came in I was cancer free and in remission. Hallelujah Thank You Jesus! “The prayers of the righteous availeth much!”

The next two years I was living out my “dash”(you the space in between the birthdate and death date). I began to travel again to places I have not been with different people, I began to get more involved in church ministries and activities outside of the church. Visiting the sick and shut in more rather at their homes or in the hospital. Just an amazing opportunity to meet and connect with others. Again, as life would have it in

July of 2024 I received the news that the cancer was back and this time with a vengeance. I fought ya and I fought hard through the chemo and radiation, but God saw I was growing tired and as we know His plans are better than our plans. Therefore, on May 8, 2025, surrounded by my amazing family, God called my name Jeanie and He said, its time now. No more pain, no more suffering, no more worrying, no more no

more anything here on earth. Your work here is done my Good and Faithful Servant…I heard the voice of Jesus and I responded to the call.

As much as I did not want to leave you all behind just know this, I am beyond happy sitting at the right hand of Jesus, reunited with the love of my life “Smitty”. Oh how I missed him so, I am with my parents, my siblings, my Godson Bobby Lewis, and so many other family and friends who were all at the gate saying “Welcome Home, Jeanie, Welcome Home”.

I leave behind to cherish our memories and to continue our legacy our sons Myron and Lerrin Smith; our four grandchildren Nirrel, Jalen, Alexia, and Amare Smith all of Arizona; One brother Rhodolphis (Linda) Hayes of Mississippi; one sister Christine (Ted) Drane of St. Louis. Lots of nieces, nephews, and cousins. My 105-year-old Godmother Inez; of Michigan; our God-daughters Ronna Alston and Chantilly (Eric) Snelling of Arizona. Our Forever Daughter-in-Loves Yolanda (Randall) MeCray and Tanya (Kevin) Tomes all of Arizona.

“Jesus said to her, ‘l am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.'”(John 11:25)

Arrangements were cared for by Mountain View Funeral Home & Cemetery at 7900 E. Main St., Mesa, AZ, 85207.