Zola Mae Smith

Zola (known as Zoat among her family) was born to Mandy Scott and Alfred Pettway on January 17, 1930, in Georgiana, AL. She was the fourth of ten children. Zola married her husband Grover D. Smith in 1952. To this union was born nine children. They relocated to Altamonte Springs, FL in 1960, where they raised their children. In 1990 she moved back to Georgiana where she was able to care for her aged mother until the time of her mother’s death. However, she spent the last two years of her life in Ocoee, FL at the home of her daughter, Gloria.  

Zola loved homemaking, flowers, and plants of all types. She loved going to garage sales with her sister, Lola, and Cousin William (Big Buddy). Most of all she loved talking to people about Jehovah God and the Kingdom message. She was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1969. In 1986 she attended Pioneer School which equipped her for the full-time ministry.  

Zola, like her mother before her, was well known for her hospitality and amazing cooking. She displayed many admirable qualities such as respect for others, generosity, gratefulness, hospitality, compassion, kindness, and humility.  

Zola was preceded in death by her husband Grover D. Smith, her son Grover D. Smith Jr. (Tweety), her grandson Tarvi Smith, 3 great-grandchildren, and 8 of her siblings.  

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Shirley (Sister) Eason (Hercules), Sherry Williams, Willie Clyde Smith, Gloria Jean Pate (Nels), Sonia Michelle Thomas, Gerald Glenn Smith, Johnnie Smith (Darla), and Farry Mae Brown; 25 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great-grandchildren, one brother, James Pettway (Rubie), one adopted sister, Betty J. Williams (Fred), one adopted brother, Freddie L. Clark (Chu), daughter-in-law, Costella Smith and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.  

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