Marilyn Smith was born April 30, 1953, to Iona Johnson and the late Joseph Brown, in Forrest City, Arkansas. Marilyn received her formal education in St, Louis, Missouri where she grew up from age two. Marilyn accepted Christ at an early age and was Baptized at Greater Bethlehem Baptist Church by the late Dr. Cleophus Robinson, Sr.
She united in matrimony with Virgil Presley Smith on August 11, 2000, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Marilyn enjoyed traveling, cooking, reading and listening to music. She had a real passion for working with children and counseling them to continue their education as far as they could. She was an active member of the Windsor Village United Methodist Church, under the leadership of Pastor Kirbyjon H. Caldwell. She was active in the Christian Entrepreneurial Organization, where she worked on the scholarship committee and The United Methodist Women before her illness.
She was preceded in death by her father, Joseph Brown, Sr., her son Marcus Deshon Vaughn, and her sister Earnese Parks-Cooper. She leaves to cherish her memories a loving and faithful husband, Virgil P. Smith; five devoted children William (Keshin), Antonio (Pershell), Iona (David), Edward, all of Houston, Texas, Leon of St. Louis, Missouri, two step daughters Katrese (David), and Toya of Houston, Texas: her mother Iona Johnson, sisters Dorothy and Phyllis Ann of St. Louis, Missouri, Lucille (Wallis) of XXX, Illnois; brothers Ronald , Leon, Joseph, David all of St. Louis , Missouri, and Willie ( Sandra) Johnson of Holly Grove, Arkansas. 24 dearly loved grandchildren; 8 adorable great grandchildren; and a host of uncles, aunts, cousins, in-laws, and friends.
The family would also like to acknowledge the Vaughn Family of Jackson, Mississippi who she truly adored.