Mattie (Hall) Smith

A Time To Be Born: Mattie Hall was the only child of Ethel Hill Hall and Columbus Hall. She was born on Saturday, April 17, 1920, in the home of her grandparents which still stands today in the countryside community of Queensland, near Fitzgerald in Ben Hill County, Georgia.  At birth, Mattie weighed a scant 3 pounds. Her grandfather, Elder James Hill, said to her mother, Ethel, “Raise her if you can.”

A Time To Grow And Be Educated: Mattie grew up in Calhoun County Georgia and was educated in Arlington.  She graduated Valedictorian of her class at Arlington High School. Mattie attended Fort Valley State College and later earned a Master’s Degree from Atlanta University.

A Time To Love: In 1943, Mattie Hall married James Threadcraft. To this union one child was born, Sandra La Rue Threadcraft.  In 1953, Mattie wedded Lewis C. “Smitty” Smith, Jr. To this union, one child was born, Lewis Charles “Duke” Smith, III. “Smitty”, her husband, preceded Mattie in death by three decades.

A Time To Plant: Mattie started her early spiritual life at New Point Baptist Church in Calhoun County Georgia. Later when she and “Smitty” relocated to Albany, Georgia they both joined Mount Zion Baptist Church. She was a dutiful member of Mount Zion for 70 years. She served in the church Sunday School, the April Club, and other church organizations. In 1998, Albany Consistory #178 presented her with their Humanitarian Award and Mount Zion Baptist Church named her Woman-of-the-Year in 2004. She served in the Mount Zion Senior Adult Care Ministry and joyfully volunteered in the church kitchen helping to make and deliver soup from the kitchen to members of the community.

A Time To Build Up: Mattie was an educator for over 35 years. She began her teaching career in Calhoun County and Early County, Georgia. Afterward, she moved to the Dougherty County School System, where she retired from Southside Middle School. During her tenure in Dougherty County, Mattie was awarded Georgia Teacher-of-the-Year in 1968.

After retiring from teaching, she was a proud volunteer of Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital for over 20 years and in 2003 she was named Volunteer-of-the-Year. Mattie was a dedicated Fort Valley State University (FVSU) alumnus. In October 2006, she received a lifetime membership in the Fort Valley State Alumni Association. In 2012, she was awarded a Golden Award for service by the Albany Area Alumni Chapter of FVSU.

Mattie was a dedicated member of the Arlington Club. The members of The Arlington Club were mostly all “homies” who grew up and were raised in Arlington, Georgia. 

She was also a faithful long-time member Silhouette of the Albany alumni chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.

Mattie was an avid gardener who raised all manner of vegetables, plants, and flowers for decades. Often one could drive past her house and see her tending her plants and lawn. Her pecan, buttermilk, and sweet potato pies were favorites of friends and family alike.

A Time To Die: During the very early morning of Wednesday, November 24, 2021, Mattie departed this life at the home of her son, “Duke” Smith in Albany. She was in the loving and diligent care of Duke and Phyllis Smith.

A Time To Mourn: Mattie Hall Smith leaves to mourn: a daughter, Sandra Threadcraft-Morgan of Decatur, Georgia, and a son, Lewis Charles “Duke” Smith, III, Daughter-In-Law Phyllis Smith; granddaughters, Kenya, Danielle, Kennedy, Jessica Edison, and two great-grandchildren, Jordyn Haley, Javares Taylor; and host of friends and family.

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