Mavis Melissa Bates Smith passed away peacefully on Friday, March 30, 2018, in Springdale, Ark. Services will be at McClain-Hays Funeral Home in Philadelphia on Thursday, April 12. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. with the funeral service following. Burial will be at Bethsaida Cemetery.
Mavis was born in the Beat Line community on March 7, 1921, to Nettie Carter and Daniel Matthew Bates. After high school, she worked as a bookkeeper for A. Deweese Lumber Co. She married Eldrew Smith on Dec. 21, 1945. They lived in the Delta before moving to Prattville, Ala., in 1973.
Upon Drew's retirement, they returned to Neshoba County, where they enjoyed being close to family, renewing old friendships, and being members at First Baptist Union. Following Drew's death in 1999, Mavis moved to Rogers, Ark., to live near her two daughters.
Mavis was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Eldrew Smith in 1999; her parents; one brother, Francis M. Bates; three sisters, Jane Breland, Dot Winstead and Mildred Wolverton; two half-brothers, Dovie and Virgil Bates; and three half-sisters, Alvie Bates, Iris Sharp and Lonie White.
Mavis is survived by two daughters, Doris Plitt and her husband, Milton, of Rogers, Ark., and Dawn Booth and her husband, Terry, of Dayton, Nev.; one sister, Lessie Williamson, of Hattiesburg; two brothers-in-law, Don Wolverton, of Hattiesburg, and Arlo Winstead of House; two sisters-in law, Marlene Lee and Janiece Cox both of Louisiana; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mavis leaves two grandchildren, Matt Plitt and his wife, Kaby of California, and Laren Plitt Campbell and her husband, Aaron of Texas; a step-granddaughter, Julie Booth Ratner and her husband, Joe of California; and great-grandchildren, Maddie, Reagan, Drew, Luke, Darby and Clark; and her step-great-grandchildren, Sarah (Z), Ellie and Adinah.
