Jonnie Anderson Smith, age 84, of Sulligent, AL, passed away on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at Generations of Vernon in Vernon, AL.  Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 12:00pm at Sulligent First Baptist Church with burial to follow in the Crews Cemetery.  Bro. Stephen Sanderson to officiate.  Visitation will be held at the church prior to the funeral service from 10:30am until 12:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Anchored Hope Church, 1194 Sid Moore Road, Sulligent, AL 35586.

Pallbearers: Eric Hollis, Alec Reese, Jessie Lee Barnes, Wayne Barnes, and Tim Barnes

Honorary Pallbearers: Danny Hollis, Macky Anderson, Amedysis Hospice Staff, and Generations of Vernon Staff

Jonnie was born September 28,1940 in Sulligent, AL in the Crews community to Tol D Anderson and Bessie Otts Anderson. Jonnie married John Kelly Smith on May 24,1956 at Mulberry Springs Baptist Church.  She was a member of Sulligent First Baptist Church where she sang in the choir and taught many Sunday School and Vacation Bible School classes. She and John were baptized together at Sulligent First Baptist after making professions of faith to Christ.

They made their home in Sulligent for the first 8 years of marriage before moving to Hackleburg, and later Hamilton, AL.  She worked part time for Carl Brown Insurance in Sulligent and was a Girl Scout Troop leader in Hamilton for many years.    They returned to Sulligent in 1974 to open their own business and live closer to their families.

Jonnie was a lover of education.  She went to college for the first time at the age of 47 and earned a Bachelor's degree in History and Social Sciences from MUW and a Master's degree in Spanish from Miss State University, traveling to Mexico and Costa Rica in the summers to earn accelerated college credits. She taught high school Spanish in Winfield and Hubbertville until retirement.  She also enjoyed travelling across the country with John, as well as bird watching and genealogy.   She loved her family and her high school classmates from the class of 1958.

She is survived by her husband of 67 years, John Kelly Smith of Sulligent, her daughter Kelly Hollis of Sulligent and her husband Danny. Two grandchildren; Eric Hollis of Helena, AL and his wife Natalie, and Heather Reese of Sulligent and her husband Alec.  Her 5 great-grandchildren are Emily Reese of Sulligent, and Addie Jo, Ellie Marie, Dalton Ray and Gracie Kate Hollis of Helena. She is also survived by two sisters, Margaret Carr (Billy) and Lois Chaffin (Paul) who reside in Vernon, and a sister-in-law Hester Smith Rasbury (Kenneth) of Gardendale and Euple Smith (Leslie) of Sulligent. She is also survived by 17 nieces and nephews who she loved as her own children, and 38 great nieces and nephews.

Jonnie was preceded in death by her parents, Tol and Bess Otts Anderson, one brother, Billy Rex Anderson of Augusta, GA and his wife Barbara, one sister, Elizabeth (Libb) Barnes and her husband Jessie Lee Sr of Sulligent.

Condolences and special memories may be shared with the family at: www.ottsfuneralhome.net

Otts Funeral Home

Sulligent, AL, Directing