Mildred Smith

Mildred Smith passed away early morning of February 22, 2022, at Kansas City Hospice House. Mildred was born on November 15, 1926 in Neelyville, Mo. to George and Estella Burnett. She grew up in Neelyville and later lived in Sikeston and Mexico, Mo before moving to Kansas City. Mildred started her career as a Pre-School Teacher and worked Head Start in Sikeston, MO. Upon moving to Mexico, Mo, Mildred worked as a housekeeper at Audrain Medical Center.

Upon moving to Kansas City, she worked at both Memorial Church and Southside Church Day Care Centers. 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 as a volunteer. In 2012, she retired and was awarded a 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 comers, 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, (even though she fell in the lake every trip) gardening, seek and find word search puzzles, (and as she would tell you, those puzzles keep your mind sharp), watching her favorite baseball team- KC Royals, putting puzzles together and cooking. And if you wanted to hear the best laugh, she always loved a good joke.  She was also very fond of the ladies in her Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church of Grandview, where she was a current and active member. Mildred also loved to brag on all her grandchildren and any accomplishments they made. 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 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 December 20th, 1946, in Mississippi County, Missouri.  They were happily married for 4 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 son-Lieutenant "Cut" Smith and 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, Ettie (Hazel) Smith of Phoenix, Az, Edmonia West of Elgin, IL, Mary (Charles) Bland of Kansas City, Brenda (Dale) Tanner of Kansas City, Jesse Ray (Connie) Smith Sr. of Raymore, MO, Renez (Robert) Pasley of Houston, Texas and Cortez Burnett of St. Louis, MO. Mildred also leaves more than 50 Grand Children, Great Grand Children and Great-Great Grand Children 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 social media!