Dorothy Smith

CHARLESTON - Dorothy E. Smith, 83, died July 17, 2002, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston.

Born Dec. 16, 1918, in Thompson Bend, daughter of the late Ozark and Essie Martin Dixon, she attended public schools in Cairo, Ill., and was a member of St. John's Missionary Baptist Church in Sikeston.

Her husband, Tom Smith, preceded her in death.

Survivors include: five daughters, Farris McGee, Jackie Smith and Vicki Gillespie of Charleston, Betty Fuller of Sikeston and Essie Gillespie of Aurora, Ill.; one son, Kim Smith of Mounds, Ill.; three brothers, William Dixon of Charleston, Herbert Dixon of Saginaw, Mich., and Robert Dixon of Baltimore, Md.; three sisters, Callie Rivers of Charleston, Pauline Salvordoh of Danville, Ill., and Rose-Mary Smith of Chicago, Ill.; 17 grandchildren, including Tony McGee of Charleston, whom she raised; and 34 great-grandchildren.

Visitation is from 7 to 8 p.m. today at Sparks Funeral Home in Charleston.

Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at the Bowen Civic Center in Charleston with the Rev. Wiley Reed officiating.

Burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery near Charleston.