Evelyn Smith

Mrs. Evelyn Vernon Smith, 79, passed away peacefully at her home in West Point on August 25, 2026. She was born on August 3, 1947, in Louisville, Mississippi, to the late Moses William Vernon and Doris Higginbotham Vernon.

Evelyn spent her early childhood in Nanih Waiya, where she attended school through the third grade before her family moved to Macon. She cherished Nanih Waiya and the memories she made there throughout her life.

At just 15 years old, Evelyn met Richard Glenn Smith at a church event held at a skating rink. They fell in love and married on August 22, 1964, in Alabama, beginning a lifelong love story that spanned more than 60 years. Richard preceded her in death on October 26, 2024.

Through Richard, Evelyn also fell in love with his family and with Clay County, which became an important part of her life. Together, Evelyn and Richard raised two daughters, Amy and Shannon. They were devoted parents who rarely missed a sporting event, school activity, or opportunity to support their girls. Having played basketball and run track in high school, Evelyn especially enjoyed watching her daughters compete.

Evelyn was a dedicated employee of the North Mississippi Industrial Development Association, where she gave many years of faithful service. She attended Christ United Methodist Church in West Point.

Her greatest joy was her family. Affectionately known as “Momma E” by her grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, Evelyn was a gifted storyteller who could make people laugh and feel as though they had been right there beside her. She possessed a gentle, loving spirit and a special gift for making everyone around her feel important, accepted, and loved.

Evelyn and Richard enjoyed exploring and making memories together, especially in the Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Mountains. While their daughters were growing up, the family looked forward each summer to vacations in Gatlinburg and Navarre Beach. Those trips became some of their most treasured memories.

For many years, Evelyn enjoyed working out and tending her garden. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren deeply and never missed an opportunity to tell others about them. She was immensely proud of her family, and they were the joy of her life.

Evelyn also had a special love for animals. Over the years, she bottle-raised many animals, caring for each with extraordinary tenderness. Among the most memorable was Oscar, a raccoon who began as a bottle baby and became a beloved family pet. Her animals were truly part of her family. Her beloved canine companions, Sissy, Cookie and Tebow, held a special place in her heart, as did Rowdy, who remained faithfully by her side.

In addition to her parents and husband, Evelyn was preceded in death by her brother, Moses William Vernon Jr.

She is survived by her two daughters, Amy Smith Buckley (Bob) and Shannon Smith Greenan (Daryl), both of West Point; three grandchildren, Richard Chantz Smith (Sam) of St. Louis, Missouri, Jakob Wood Smith (Jade) of Columbus, and Willa Grace Greenan of West Point; five great-grandchildren, Aidan Jakob Smith, Damon Frances Smith, and Lydia Joyce Smith of St. Louis, Missouri, and Presley Matthew Gaskin and Elliott Alexander Gaskin of Columbus; her beloved canine companion, Rowdy; her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Judy McArthur Vernon, Carey and Jane Upton, Patricia Cantrelle (Pat), George and Sallie Mae Watson, James and Bonnie Watson, Henry Watson, and Diane Rowland; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Richard was the love of Evelyn’s life, and she never truly recovered from losing him. Their love began when they were teenagers and endured throughout their lives—a love that even death could not erase.

Momma E’s family will miss her sweet and loving spirit more than words can express. They will miss her stories, her laughter, her tenderness, and the way she made everyone feel loved and accepted. Even in their sorrow, they are grateful for the promise of Jesus and find comfort in knowing that she is now free from the pain and sadness she experienced here on earth.

Her family can only imagine the beautiful reunion that awaited her—with Richard, and with all the loved ones who went before her, both two-footed and four-footed. They find peace in knowing that she is once again with those she loved so dearly and that, through the promise of Jesus, they will one day see her again.

In keeping with Mrs. Evelyn’s wishes, the family will hold a graveside service at a later date. Calvert Funeral Home of West Point is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements.

Memorials may be made to West Point/Clay County Animal Shelter, 5122 Old Tibbee Road, West Point, MS 39773

Friends may leave an online condolence at www.calvertfuneralhome.com