Obituary of Essie Smith

Essie “Pauline” Smith, 81, passed peacefully on her birthday March 7, 2018, after battling Stage 4 cancer. Pauline was born in Allendale, South Carolina to Loyal Smith and Nolder Smith (Owens) but was raised in Savannah, Georgia. She worked for Oakland Unified School District for 32 years and retired in June 1996. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Savannah State where she pledged with the AKA sorority. She then earned her master’s degree at Pepperdine University in Early Childhood Development. Pauline spent most of her adult life in Oakland, California prior to moving back to Savannah to take care of her mother. She was very personable, encouraging, approachable, good hearted and enjoyed life. She is survived by Leroy Singleton (husband), Shelia Fears (daughter), Sharon Smith-Fall (daughter), Donte Fears (grandson), Trinity Lewis (granddaughter), Amber Lewis (granddaughter), Lorelle Fears (granddaughter), Aeneas Lewis (grandson), Hattie Lee Gray (cousin) and Julie Davis (stepdaughter). Her services will be held at Friendship Baptist Church in Savannah Georgia, where her mother served on the Usher Board and her father served as a Deacon. She is preceded by Loyal Smith (father), Nolder Smith-Bryant (mother) and Elliott Bryant (stepfather). She was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by all she knew and everyone she touched. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul, he leadth me in the paths of righteousness for his name ‘s sake. Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalms 23: 1-4 NKJV