The funeral service for Mrs. Evelyn will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at New Salem Church of Christ with a visitation from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service, with interment to follow in the church cemetery. Brookhaven Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Mrs. Evelyn Smith, age 97 of Brookhaven, MS, went to be with her Lord on Thursday, March 12, 2026. She was born on January 17, 1929 to the late Lawrence "Donnie" Smith and Amie Rosetta Smith. She was a longtime resident of the Brookhaven area and was very loved by everyone who knew her. Mrs. Evelyn worked for Royal Maid Industries in Hazlehurst for many years where she was a positive role model and uplifting individual to the people she worked alongside. Of all of Mrs. Evelyn's accomplishments, she took the most pride in the family that she raised and truly enjoyed spending time with them.

Mrs. Evelyn is preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Johnny Rippy and Willard Smith; siblings, Wessie, Virgil, Solon, Ruth, Bracy, Sarah and Harold.

Those left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Mary Martha Norton and husband Mark, Ramona Cain and husband Andy; son, Stephen Smith; grandchildren, Amanda Smith, Johnny Norton, Andaleigh Cain, Blake Cain, Alyssa Lofton and Joshua Smith; great-grandchildren, Candace Coley, Maleigha Bowman, Braylon Bowman, Ethan Price, Hartley Cain, Aria Cain,  and Anden Cain; great-great-grandchildren, Skyler Coley, Paxton Oswalt, and Nicole Prather; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.