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Lillian Louise Smith, daughter of Lee Thomas and Sarah Thomas, was born on July 5, 1930. in Clarksdale, Mississippi. She passed away in Detroit. MI at the Mission Point Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Detroit, on Monday, June 6, 2022. She was 91. Lillian was affectionately called "Mamie Lou" by friends and her grandchildren called her "Louise.

The Thomas family moved to Inkster, Michigan when Lillian was a child. She graduated from Inkster High School. It was in Inkster where she met her husband-to-be, Edward Avery, who was from Charlotte, NC. They married in 1947. Of of this union, they had two daughters, Norma Lee Avery "Cookie" and Patricia Louise Avery "Patsy". Lillian and Edward moved to Charlotte, NC. The children remained in Michigan until the two of them settled in Charlotte.

Lillian and Edward divorced and she then married Dean Smith in 1968. While living in Charlotte, Lillian, and Dean attended Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. They remained married until Dean's death in 1985.

She began working for Charlotte Mecklenburg Hotel. Later, she worked for Simon's Formal Wear. While working there, she attended Central Piedmont Community College. She began working as a home care worker, taking care of many family members. When her health began to fail, she moved to Michigan to be near her daughter Norma. While living in Detroit, she attending the historical Little Rock Baptist Church.

Lillian was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Juanita, her daughter, Patsy and her granddaughter, Savannah.

She leaves to mourn her passing her daughter, Norma Avery Underwood (Deamous) of Detroit, MI, Sean, Kim, Chappi, Jr., Deniece, Sarah, Mary, Charles, and Louis of Charlotte, NC and Michael of New York, NY; 36 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. She also leaves with cherished memories two two brothers, Ronald Thomas (Glenrose) and Michael Thomas; sister-in-law, Julia Vance; brother-in-law. Conway Buford, and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.