Mae Cole Smith

Lillie Mae Petry Cole Smith, 94, of Orange, Texas, went to be with her Lord and Savior on February 15, 2020, in Port Arthur, Texas.

Funeral services for Mae will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 19, 2020, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange with Reverend Jay Thomas officiating. Burial will follow at Trout Creek Cemetery in Kirbyville, Texas.

Visitation will be prior to the service at the funeral home beginning at 12:00 p.m.

Born in Crowley, Louisiana, on June 8, 1925, she was the daughter of Lawrence Dennis Petry and Dora (Guidry) Petry. Mae was a devout Christian and dedicated longtime member of MacArthur Heights Baptist Church where she taught a ladies and senior citizens Sunday School class, volunteered with children for Vacation Bible School, and formerly served as the chairman of the “Prayer Chain”. She served her community as a member on the
Board of Directors of Optimist Village as well as led weekly fellowship services there as an extension of MacArthur Heights Baptist Church. Mae was known as the Matriarch of her family and was instrumental in raising many children that were not her own, but that she loved as her own. She was forever faithful in spreading the word of Christ whether it be through prayer, teaching, or simply by having a wonderful conversation. Mae was a light to many, lived a very full and rewarding life, and will be deeply missed by all.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Dora Petry; loving husbands, Harold Cole and Derrell Smith; sons, Dennis Cole and Ross Cole; and her many siblings.

Those left to cherish Mae’s memory include her granddaughters, Sara Beth Cole and Betty Jo Cole; along with numerous nieces, nephews, and loving friends.

Serving as pallbearers will be Kenny Henry, Arthur Dowell, Robert Petry, Dan Anderson, Tommy Dunn, and Ralph Bowler. Honorary pallbearers are Leroy Matlock, Randy Petry, and Anthony Garbiso.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to MacArthur Heights Baptist Church Building Fund at 3600 Nightingale St., Pinehurst, TX 77630.