"My name is Marie Smith. I was born in Edwards, Mississippi. I am the fifth child of eight, born to my parents, Columbus and Ethel MacFarland.
I grew up on a sharecropper's farm where you had to share half of what you raised, especially the cotton and corn. All our food was planted and
harvested; our milk and butter came from the cows. At the age of nine, my mom passed away. That was the most traumatic feeling that I
ever had. It was the first time I can remember a change in my life. That was in 1946. Two years later my dad remarried. We were very happy for him. We had another mom in the house. She prepared the meals, took care of the house chores, and helped my sister with the laundry. She did not stay long before she left. One child was born to this union. That marriage ended in divorce. At the age of twelve, my sister got married. I was the next one to carry on the household duties. My change had come again; I had to take over, without really knowing how. I never stayed around long enough to watch or learn how, so I did what I was required to do; wash dishes, half made the beds; I was lost for guidance –but God works in mysterious ways and wonders He performs. Three years later dad remarried for the third time. No grass had a chance to grow under his feet. To this union nine more children were born. There were eighteen of us to share our love from dad's tribe.

I became a mother at an early age, so my education was on hold. Being a single mother, I moved to the city to find work. There I became a Domestic, working for a family, house cleaning, washing and ironing clothes. I began reading their newspaper and saw a way to move from there to a better job; so, I left Mississippi in 1963 and went to New York, and there I was sent to New Jersey by an agency to a sleep-in job. I stayed there for three years so I could save money for a better position in life. I began to work in a box factory. That was not my choice, so I returned to school at Essex County to further my education. That's when I discovered my dream; I became a nursing assistant, taking care of the sick. I worked in homes for a few years, but there was no security, so I went to SBMC. There I was hired to work for fifteen years until I retired. I thank God for His grace and mercy. Now I know it was not anything that I did, it was God who weathered my storm and brought me threw it." Marie Smith leaves behind to cherish her memory: husband, Charles W. Smith of Newark New Jersey; two daughters, Tia M Smith of Newark, New Jersey and Ethel (Harold) Christopher; one son, Maurice (Maria) Smith of Mesa, Arizona; grandchildren, Nakia, Lynette (Shatwan), Krystal, Charles, CyDale (Wendy), Cedrique (Christine), Canada (Jordyn), Azaria, Kim, Denny, Adria, Harold and Shelton; great grandchildren, Keon,Quadre, Destinee, Alex, Janiya, Anela, Ayani, Leilah, Lake and Brooklyn; siblings, William McFarland of Atlanta, Georgia Elizabeth Smith of
Dorchester, Massachusetts, Ernestine McFarland, Alma Jean Smith, Leonard Angie McFarland all of Champaign Illinois, Leroy (Gwendolyn) McFarland of Edwards Mississippi; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and Friends.