Essie Marie Blalock Smith finished her earthly pilgrimage at 8:30 AM on Monday, October 17, 2022, while residing at The Lexington House, Alexandria Louisiana.
The visitation will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2022, at the GA Mangun Center in Alexandria from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. The service will begin at 11:00 a.m. with Bishop Anthony Mangun and Pastor Scott Smith officiating. The interment will be held in Alexandria Memorial Gardens on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. under the direction of Gallagher Funeral Home.
Essie Marie was a native of Alexandria, Louisiana and graduated from Bolton High School. The faithful and devoted wife of the late Odie Francis Morgan Smith for 55 years. The Precious, Godly mother to Gale, Paula, Paul, and Scott. For 40 +years she kept children in her home, and she chose this vocation so she could be at home with her children. We are forever in her debt, and we all rise to call her Blessed! She gave her heart to Jesus as a young mother and was born again of the water and of the Spirit and was a wonderful Christian and faithful, loyal member of The Pentecostals of Alexandria for over 65 years!
She was preceded in death by her late husband Odie Francis Morgan Smith, by her father and mother James Marion Blalock and Essie Mary Stewart Blalock; brothers: James Marion Blalock Jr., Leon Blalock, Curtis Eugene ‘Jack’ Blalock, and Charlie Blalock; sisters: Maude Jones Skinner, Francis McCain, Elizabeth Blalock; one granddaughter, Judith Moriel Smith.
Those left to mourn her passing are her four children; Linda Gale Wallace(Herb), Paula Jean Martin(Craig), Paul Eugene Smith(Sharon), Scott Smith(Carolyn).Ten grandchildren: Lisa Cobb(Bill), Larry Lucas(Rochelle), Terry Martin(Candice), Nolan Martin(Terri), Willis Martin(Rochelle), Wesley Martin(Armen), Melissa Ainsworth(Davin), Ragan Smith(Crystal), Marion Smith(Anna), and Hannah Smith. Nineteen Great Grandchildren: Adinah Cobb, Anna Eastman(Jeremy), Dillon Lucas, Zack Lucas, Gale’s stepdaughters Tracey Castalano and Camille Wallace , Cameron Martin, Courtney Martin, Anthony Martin, Andrew Martin, Madalyn Martin, Mitchel Martin, Mason Martin, Kate Martin, Allie Ainsworth, Anderson Ainsworth, Austin Etier, Cooper Smith, Paxton Smith, Sophia Smith, and Emma Marie Smith Lacey; and a host of nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.”
Psalm 116:15