Mildred Smith

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —Mildred Smith passed away the early morning of Feb. 22, 2022, at Kansas City Hospice House.

Mildred was born on Nov. 15, 1926, in Neelyville, Missouri, to George and Estella Burnett. She grew up in Neelyville and later lived in Sikeston, Missouri, and Mexico, Missouri, before moving to Kansas City. Mildred started her career as a Preschool Teacher and worked Sikeston Head Start. Upon moving to Mexico, Missouri, Mildred worked as a housekeeper at Mexico Delta Hospital. Upon moving to Kansas City, she soon was back to her kids. She worked at Memorial Church Day Care and Southside Church Day Care. Her care and love for kids continued for many years. Upon retirement, she went right back to doing what she loved. This time, she took her Grandma loving skills and became a Foster Grand Parent in the Foster Grandparents of KC Program. This led her to the Crittenton Children’s Center. In 2012, she retired from her volunteer position and was awarded a beautiful plaque for over 15 years of Volunteer Service. If you asked her what she did, she would say, just be Grandma to them! Often times, you would be in a grocery store and see kids peeking around corners, smiling and sneaking waves to her. The rules were that they were not supposed to have contact outside of the center, but the kids couldn’t resist speaking to her. Mildred’s hobbies included fishing, gardening, seek and find word search puzzles, watching baseball and her favorite boys, The Kansas City Royals, putting puzzles together and cooking. Guaranteed, she was going to fall in the lake as many as times as she casted her reel. She would tell you that those puzzles keep your mind sharp. And if you wanted to hear the best laugh, she always loved a good joke. Mildred was also very fond of the ladies in her Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church of Grandview, where she was also a current and active member. If you asked her how she was doing, she had a standard response: “I’m Fine, Fine. Thank the Lord.” If you discussed the weather or even life in general, her response was: “The Good Lord made these days long before you or I, they don’t know poot.” And she firmly believed and said, “God is gonna take care of me!” And he did…

Mildred was married to Lieutenant Smith on Dec. 20, 1946, in Mississippi County, Missouri. They were happily married for four years until his unexpected passing in 1950.

She was preceded into death by her parents, George and Estella Burnett; her husband, Lieutenant Smith; her daughter, Gale Sayles; her siblings, Lorene Johnson, GW Burnett, Willie Burnett, Lucille Troup, Leroy Burnett, RV Burnett, Curtis Burnett, David Steward, Daisy Burnett, Ruth Conley; and her grandson, Terrance Lane.

Mildred is survived by her children, Mary (Charles) Bland of Kansas City, Missouri, Brenda (Dale) Tanner of Kansas City, Missouri, Jesse R. Smith Sr. (Connie) of Raymore, Missouri, Renez (Robert) Pasley of Houston, Texas, and Cortez Burnett of St. Louis, Missouri. Mildred also leaves more than 50 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren that she loved unconditionally and a host of other relatives and friends. And although she never owned a computer, she became the most popular and loved Grandma to all of Social Media!

Home Going Celebration

In Loving Memory of

Mother Mildred Smith:

Sunrise: Nov. 15, 1926-Sunset: Feb. 22, 2022

Services will be Sunday, March 6, 2022, at Serenity Funeral Home, 1101 E. Bannister Rd. Kansas City, MO 64131, with Pastor Curford E. Dixon Sr. officiating.