Lottie was born on June 26, 1919, to John and Virginia Rhodes Frazier. “Miss Lottie”, as she was known, grew up in the Gum Branch community in Winston County. On February 27, 1938, she married Mr. Jack and they have been married for almost 80 years.
In 1948, they moved to Brooksville and she worked in retail sales at Cade Hardware for many years. After retiring, she established Lottie’s Greenhouse, which was very successful and during this time, she ran for mayor of Brooksville, was elected, and served for 16 years. She was the first female mayor elected in the state of Mississippi. During her political career, she was well-known in Jackson and Washington, D.C., on a first name basis as “Miss Lottie”, for seeking and receiving grants for the town of Brooksville. She won several prestigious awards from Jackson and Washington for her accomplishments. She is a member of Fairview Baptist Church of Columbus.
“Miss Lottie” is survived by her loving husband, Jack Smith; daughter Faye Morgan and husband Thomas; and son Wayne Smith all of Columbus. She also leaves behind her sister Lorene Bruff of Louisville. One of her greatest joys was being “Maw Maw” to her five grandchildren: Chip Smith and wife Ginger, Scott Smith, Bryan Smith and wife Candace, Sandy Williams and husband Harold, Melanie Nash and husband Myron; her six great-grandchildren: Kelsea Nichols (Wes), Brant Smith, Brylee Smith, Frazier Williams (Jessica), Morgan Williams, and Arie Carlton (Brandon); and two great-great-grandchildren: Farrah Williams and Ellie Carlton. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her daughter-in-law Dorothy D. Smith.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials for “Miss Lottie” be given to Fairview Baptist Church, 127 Airline Road, Columbus, MS 39702.
Services are under the direction of Nowell-Massey Funeral Home, 724 North Columbus Avenue, Louisville, MS. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family by signing the guest register at www.nowellmasseyfuneralhome.com.
