Mrs. Maggierene Manson Smith

D.O.D. 06/11/2025
Age: 81
Place of Death: DCH

Maggierene Manson Smith, age 81, resident of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and former resident of Saginaw, Michigan, passed away on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at Druid City Hospital, Tuscaloosa, AL. Celebration of Life services will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Taylorville, AL, Pastor Kendra Walker-Jacobs officiating, with Interment following at Taylorville Cemetery. The remains will lie in state one hour prior to service time at the church.

Public Viewing will be Friday, June 20, 2025, from 12 noon to 5 p.m. at Wills Funeral Services.
Flower times, Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m.-9:15 a.m.

Legacy of Mrs. Maggierene Manson Smith

Mrs. Maggierene Manson Smith, age 81, resident of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, born April 22, 1944, to the late Pecola Nevels Manson Jones and the late Clarence Manson, Sr., transitioned to be present with the Lord on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at Druid City Hospital, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Maggierene joined St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Taylorville, Alabama, at a young age, where she came to believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and accepted Him as her Lord and Savior at an early age. Maggierene’s favorite gospel songs were, Walk Around Heaven All Day and May the Works I’ve Done Speak for Me. Maggierene lived a life of faith and belief in Jesus Christ.

Maggierene attended Taylorville and Tuscaloosa public schools and graduated from Druid High School in 1961. She relocated to Cleveland, Ohio and later to Saginaw, Michigan, where she attended Delta College and received an Associate Degree in Nursing. After graduating from college, she worked as a Nurse at Sun Valley Nursing Home until her retirement.

Maggierene joined the Truevine Baptist Church in Saginaw, Michigan, under the leadership of Reverend Robert B. Corley, Sr. where she sang in the Gospel Chorus and served in the Missionary Society. Upon marrying the late Willie Smith, Maggierene joined Tabernacle Baptist Church in Saginaw, Michigan, where she sang in the Gospel Chorus and served faithfully as a Deaconess and member of the Missionary Society. Maggierene also was a founding member of the Shaunette Gospel Singers of Saginaw, Michigan and loved sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ through song. Maggierene was an active member of the communities in which she lived and was a dedicated member of the Order of Eastern Stars and served as a former Daughter Ruler of the Charlotte Ray Temple #549 in Saginaw, Michigan.

Maggierene and Willie relocated to Tuscaloosa, Alabama after retirement, where she lived for 23 years and joined Jefferson Chapel C.M.E Church, in honor of the wishes of her late mother. Maggierene and Willie later returned to the church of her youth at Saint Paul A.M.E. Church, in Taylorville, Alabama, where she volunteered with the church’s Food Bank ministry. Maggierene was also a devoted member of the Eta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Maggierene enjoyed traveling nationally and globally, spending time with her husband and family, spoiling her children, grandchildren, great and great-great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, cooking and baking the family’s favorites, and growing beautiful and exotic plants and flowers.

Maggierene’s legacy will forever live in the hearts and minds of those whose lives she blessed and touched. Maggierene leaves to cherish her memories: daughters, Bettina, Valerie, and Gwen (Marvin) all of Saginaw, Michigan, and Cynthia of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; a son, Willie (Michelle) of Atlanta, Georgia; a stepson, Geno of Bay City, Michigan; sisters, Mildred Manson, Priscilla Prewitt, and Dorothy (Eric) Gaines all of Tuscaloosa, and Betty Surles of Montgomery, Alabama; brothers, Clarence Manson, Jr. of Atlanta, Georgia, and Billy Ray (Synita) Manson of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, fourteen grandchildren, thirty-two great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and a host of nieces, nephews, god-children, other relatives, and friends.

Maggierene was preceded in death by the love of her life and husband of 49 years, the late Willie Smith; her parents, the late Pecola Nevels Manson Jones and Clarence Manson, Sr., and her mother and father-in-law, the late Rosie and Molten Smith. Maggierene was the oldest of twelve siblings, five of whom preceded her in death, the late Dr. Doris Jean Manson Frazier, the late Bobby Manson, the late George Manson, the late William Manson, and the late Junetta Faye Manson Spence. She was also preceded in death by several brothers and sisters in law, one son in law, Reverend Jerry Redeemer; two grandsons, the late Marcell Brown and the late Darius Gray; one great grandson, the late Xavier Gray; five nephews, and two nieces.