Jean Vernell O'Neal Smith

Jean Vernell ONeal Smith passed away on Tuesday, April 2, 2018. Mrs. Smith was born July 14, 1929 in Saltillo, TN. to James Frank ONeal and Margaret Edna Sanford ONeal. She was a graduate of Saltillo High School in 1947 where she served as a class officer and member of the basketball team. Following high school, she continued her education by attending West Tennessee Business College and Jackson State Community College. Upon graduation from West Tennessee Business College, she was hired as a secretarial stenographer by the telephone company and began a successful and rewarding career. During her career, Jean saw the company through several name changes from AT&T, Southern Bell, South Central Bell, and BellSouth. Jean advanced from secretarial stenographer to Personnel Manager for the West TN District and in 1983 was transferred to Memphis as the Human Resource Manager for the Memphis and Jackson TN Division. Jean retired from BellSouth (now AT&T) in 1991 with 42 years of service. On December 7, 1952, Jean married the love of her life, Leonard Mclean "Mush" Smith. God blessed them with 64 years of happiness. Leonard preceded her in death on May 11, 2017. Jean loved God, her husband, family and friends. She was a lifetime member of the Telephone Pioneers of America, and a former member of the Jackson Pilot Club. As an active member of the Jackson Pilot Club, she served as Projects Coordinator, Recording Secretary, Vice President, President and Director of the Executive Board. Jean was a member of West Jackson Baptist Church and served as a teacher for a Womens Sunday school class for many years. Her hobbies included home decorating, antiquing, needlework and oil painting. She enjoyed traveling, outdoor activities, boating and sports, especially basketball and football. In addition to her husband, Leonard Mush Smith, and parents, James Frank ONeal, and Margaret Edna Sanford ONeal, she is preceded in death by brothers, Frankie Lee ONeal and Tommy Frank ONeal, sister in law, Sharon H. ONeal and nephew, Bradley Sorensen. She is survived by two nieces whom she adored, Connie O. Copeland (Keith) of Altamonte Springs, FL and their children, Cody Copeland of Altamonte Springs, FL. and Brianna Copeland of Bartlett, TN., and Susan O. Buse (Raymond) of Savannah, TN. and their daughter, Naomi Ruth Buse. Other immediate family members include Gale Whitley Sorensen of Jackson, TN., her son, John Sorensen (Rachelle) of Jackson, TN. and their children Kayla and Jayden Sorenson of Jackson, TN. and a host of other family and friends. Funeral services will be held on April 8, 2018 at 2pm from the chapel of Lawrence Sorenson Funeral Home in Jackson, TN with Ron Hale officiating. Visitation will be held from 12pm 2pm. Burial will follow in the Ridgecrest Cemetery in Jackson, TN. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Shady Grove Cemetery Association c/o The Peoples Bank 34910 Hwy 104 S, Sardis, TN. 38371, West Jackson Baptist Church 580 Oil Well Rd., Jackson, TN. 38305 or the charity of ones choice. To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Jean Vernell O'Neal Smith, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.