Mable Earlean (Stephens) Smith
Mable Earlean (Stephens) Smith, age 90, of Marianna, Florida, passed away on Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at Marianna Health & Rehabilitation Center.
Daughter of the late Jake E. Stephens and Vereny Peacock Stephens formerly of Grand Ridge. She was a lifelong resident of Jackson County graduating from Grand Ridge High School. A cheerleader for five years and was instrumental in the writing of the Alma Mater for Grand Ridge school.
After attending the National Bowling Association School of Instruction, she became a Licensed Bowling Instructor and Coach for the youth of Jackson County, forming the first Bantam, Junior and Intermediate leagues in Marianna.
Under her direction the Bantam league bowlers won the State Bowling tournament the first year of their bowling becoming State Bantam Champions. She also bowled on a travel league traveling all over Southeast Florida. Her last time to bowl was in a National Bowling Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada, bowling with the Gainesville Florida association where she placed in singles and doubles.
During the years her children attended F. M. Golson Elementary School where she served as a volunteer Crossing Guard for the Marianna Police Department, during Wiley George Pittman's tenure as Police Chief. She served at Smith's Store on Kelson Ave. at the corner crossing also directing traffic at Daniel Street and Highway 90. She also served as a volunteer substitute teacher for Mrs. Garraway, and was the clown for all Halloween Carnivals at Golson during the time her children attended there.
Mable worked for the Jackson County School Board for twenty-five years in the areas of Exceptional Student Education, Basic Instruction, and Administrative Secretary to the Superintendent of Schools. Serving under the direction of four superintendents and six and one-half years under two of them as their administrative secretary.
Mable was married to Albert W. Smith, Jr., for sixty-one and one-half years prior to his death. She and Albert had two sons; Stephen Larry Smith of Chattahoochee, Florida; Chuck R. Smith of Marianna, Florida; two daughters-in-laws, Cindy Smith and Elizabeth "Beth" Smith; sister, Dorcas Stephens Bamburg of Marianna, Florida; brothers, Clinton Stephens and wife, Delores of Warner Robbins, Georgie, Gerald Stephens and wife, Kaye of Sneads, Florida; two grandchildren; April Woodham, Taylor Smith; four great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert W. Smith, Jr.; father, Jake E. Stephens; mother, Vereny Peacock Stephens; sisters, Vergelean Stephens, Carol Jean Stephens Thomas; one grandchild, Aaron Smith as well as her grandparents: Ben (B.B.) and Mittie Grace Daniels Peacock, Hettie Moneyham Stephens and Matthew Stephens.
Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M., Monday, August 3, 2026 at the First Baptist Church of Marianna with Pastors Vince Smith and Clinton Stephens officiating. Interment will follow in Dykes Cemetery with Marianna Chapel Funeral Home directing.
The family will receive friends for a time of visitation from 10:00 A.M. until the time of service at the First Baptist Church of Marianna.
Services are entrusted to the Lambe family at Marianna Chapel Funeral Home.
Condolences may be made online at www.mariannachapelfh.com
