Funeral services for Mrs. Claudia Mae Smith will be held at Brookhaven Funeral Home on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 with burial to follow in the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery (Bogue Chitto). Brookhaven Funeral Home will be in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on the same day from 11:00 AM until time of services.

Mrs. Smith, 87, of Ruth, Mississippi passed away on Saturday, September 13, 2025. She was born in Ruth on May 3, 1938, to Winton and Texie Greer Brister.

Mrs. Claudia was a homemaker. She kept an impeccable house and devoted herself to caring for her family, especially for her husband and son; she loved the ground that her son walked on. She also worked at Enterprise Cafeteria and at Walmart as a demo lady. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald L. Smith; her parents; two sisters, Sara McGraw and Inez Taylor; a niece, Judy Burnes; and nephew, Larry McGraw.

Survivors include her son, Wendell Smith; three nieces, Kathy "Karen" Williamson (Nolan), Missy Morgan (Stan), and Nikki McGraw; and three nephews, Joey McGraw, Clyde Burns, and Eric Taylor.

A note of thanks from Mr. Wendell Smith: "I would like to thank the staff of Arden Hospice – especially Natalie, Alisha, and Ms. Virginia; and to my cousin, Kathy "Karen" Williamson, you have been there and taken so much time with Momma. I thank you greatly for being there for her and me."