Eunice Thomasine Smiley

Eunice Thomasine Jackson Smiley, Thomasine or Tommie to her friends, was born in Selma, AL to Thomas Jackson, Jr and Ethel Holmes Jackson. She was the baby of three sisters.

She was active in her community growing up participating in church, school and science clubs.

Thomasine excelled academically and entered Bennett College (Greensboro, NC) in 1960. She participated in many social clubs and academic societies, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. She continued her education by completing a Post Bachelor Program in Biochemistry in Boston, MA. Between Bennett and Boston Thomasine married her love, Jesse J. Smiley, in August of 1965. After Jesse’s honorable discharge from the United States Air Force, they made their way to Cleveland Ohio. Tommie, as she was now known, worked for over twenty years in the Cleveland Clinic Foundation’s Biochemistry labs. Prior to her retirement she learned how to prepare taxes through H & R Block, a subject that fascinated her. Upon her retirement from Cleveland Clinic Foundation, she worked at H & R Block helping many people with their taxes. It was during this time she also worked with a company to bring science to grade school children. Tommie enjoyed helping children discover the wonders of science. Tommie never one to sit still started helping in St. Timothy’s Church Office. She gradually devoted more of her energy to working at St. Timothy’s and then Holy Spirit when the Parishes merged, and the new Parish was formed. She continued her work at the church until 2020.

Tommie, a gifted and dedicated soprano, was always a part of her church choir and enjoyed using her voice to facilitate praise. In addition to her love of music-singing, playing, concerts and symphonies, she enjoyed photography and other visual arts-theater and ballet, crafting and philanthropy.

She is mourned deeply by her loving husband Jesse, her daughter Jessalyn (Hashim), grandson Osman, her big sister Rose, and a host of family and friends.

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him.  Plasm 28:7 

Please consider donating in Tommie’s (Eunice’s) honor to one of her favorite organizations:

-Edmundite Missions, 1428 Broad St, Selma, AL 36701

-Bennett College, 900 E. Washington St, Greensboro, NC, 27401

-Holy Spirit Church, 4341 East 131 St, Garfield Hts, Oh 44105

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Eunice Thomasine Smiley, please visit our floral store.