Lily Earline Burdine Smith passed away January 29, 2017, in Greer S.C. at the home of one her daughters. Earline would have celebrated her 100th birthday on April 13, 2017. Born on April 13, 1917, Earline was the ninth born of 19 children. Her parents were W.E. & Ida Chappell Burdine.
She was extremely proud of her heritage and large family. She was raised in Kosciusko and after marrying Norman Norris “Zeke” Smith in 1934, they moved to Texas, Mississippi, Alabama and back to Mississippi. Norman and Earline enjoyed a fun-filled adventurous life together for 62 years. They had four daughters, Norma Dean (Wimberley), Reba Lee (Smyth), Billie Jo (Adams), and Janie Burline (Watkins).
Earline was an American patriot often proudly mentioning her four sons-in-laws represented each branch of the military. Her patriotism helped guide her career as she began working for the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. In her career, she worked for the Air Force, Stennis Space Center, Ingalls Shipyard and the Navy, retiring from the Federal Government as a civilian with military clearance.
After she retired, she owned a business selling jewelry and Australian Crystal to retailers. She was a life-long Republican and was able to vote in the 2017 election at 99 years old. Earline loved to travel, never turning down an opportunity to see something new and beautiful.
Many of Norman and Earline’s years together were spent at their home on Fowl River in Theodore Ala. They hosted several family reunions and countless fun filled summer days for family at their little piece of heaven on the river. She and Norman moved back to their hometown, Kosciusko, living across the street from her older brother Richard V. Burdine. Sadly, Norman passed away on February 1, 1996, only after three months of returning to Kosciusko. Earline was also predeceased by her daughter, Billie Jo, and a granddaughter, Susie.
Earline was the last of the “19 Burdine children”. Her last surviving sibling, Delores ‘Sue” Burdine Haley, passed away in October 2016. The two sisters were able to spend a few days together in July 2016, before Sue passed.
When Earline’s mother passed away, her husband, W.E. Burdine, memorialized all their children on the tombstone he and his wife would share at the Kosciusko City Cemetery. Earline is listed on the tombstone as born in 1918 but that was in error. As it meant a lot to her parents to have their family documented, it was also important to Earline that her final resting place be with her husband, parents, brothers and sisters. Her urn will be placed next to her sweetheart on July 23, 2017, in a Burdine/Smith style reunion and celebration of her life.
Earline had many names, Neenie, Mama, Grandma, Maw Maw, Grandmother, Great Grandma, Great- Great-Grandma, Great-Great-Great Grandma and Aunt Neenie. She is sorely missed as her love for family, life and all things beautiful will be carried on by her 78 descendants – four daughters, 19 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, 21 great-great-grands and one great-great-great-grand.
