Mrs. Pallie B. Smith

Pallie B. Smith was born on December 15, 1939, in Oxford, Alabama to Gary and Muriel Truss. She was the second eldest of nine siblings, yet the eldest sister. Pallie lived her early years in Oxford with many other family members nearby residing in Anniston, Alabama. After elementary school, the Truss family moved to Middletown, Ohio where Pallie continued her education attending Middletown High School, and the Middletown Business School and other continuing education classes.

Pallie was named after her grandmother (Pallie) and later received the nickname, Papie. Many recall Papie being a beautiful baby with a spirit and soul to match. She was kind hearted, generous, and willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. She was smart and made friends easily. Papie was a brave and bold person, a diligent worker, a concerned citizen (voter polls worker) and volunteer, but above all things, she was a great mom. She enjoyed cooking, baking, and entertaining and was well known for her "Pallie

Poundcake" which she put a lot of love into making for family and friends. At an early age, she learned to sew and made her own clothes for school. Papie was always neatly attired as were her kids. She always wanted things neat, clean, and in order. Her greatest pastime was golfing, and she truly adored her friends from the golf group. She enjoyed watching athletics, specifically golf and football. She participated in activities such as bowling, walking, riding motor bikes, etc. She was an avid reader of many books of varying subject matter and loved doing crossword puzzles. She played bridge and other card games too. She liked drawing, painting, music and dancing. She learned to fast dance using a doorknob as her partner and the family's old upright piano. Papie loved the Blues and Country Music which she grew up on.

Being the eldest sister, Fallie helped take care of her younger siblings. According to her sister, Garie "Sweetie" Lunsford, Papie was the bossy one out of the bunch and kept everyone in line. The older siblings were assigned to watch over younger siblings, and her primary assignment was the youngest of the nine, Charles Truss. She watched over him as her own.

Fallie spent much of her career working for Pollock Paper Company, later to be called St. Regis. After the plant shut down, Fallie spent time working for Roger's Jewelry and later Elder-Beerman Department Store. Her faith was strong starting at an early age when the family moved to Ohio and joined Mount Zion Baptist Church. She later joined a new church family at United Missionary Baptist Church where she was a member for over 40 years. In 1979, Fallie remarried and started a family together with Bennie Smith. They spent over forty years together with a total of seven children between the two of them.

Fallie was preceded in death by her parents, Gary and Muriel; husband, Bennie Smith; daughter, Ernestine Merchant; sister, Eloise McGowan; brothers, Shelly Truss (Erma), LeAuthur Truss (Thelma), and Joseph Truss (Louise); stepson, Victor Smith and several aunts, uncles, and cousins and nephews.

She is survived by her sister, Garie Frances Lunsford (Daniel); brothers, Harry Truss (Lois), LeRoy Truss, and Charles Truss (Michelle); her sons, Victor Merchant (Gloria), Kendall Merchant, and Chris Merchant (Lisa); daughter, Deneene Merchant; and stepdaughter, Vikki Smith (Jerome); additionally, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren who affectionately called her Gran Gran along with a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.

To those who were closest to her, phone calls ended with the person saying to Papie, I Love You, to which Papie would respond, "I LOVE YOU MORE!"

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