Norma Jean (Ladner) Smith

Norma Jean Smith, also known as "Jeanie" or "Mean Jean" to most of us, peacefully entered her eternal rest on August 2, 2025, in the comfort of her home, surrounded by her family. Jeanie is preceded in death by her parents, Denard and Reida Ladner, her son, Kenneth Smith, her daughter, Janice Vaughan, and one sister, Patsy McCollum. She is survived by her husband of fifty-seven years and seven months, Dillus Smith, her son-in-law, Rick Vaughan, her grandson, Gabrel Vaughan, one sister, Debra Ladner, five brothers, Joey (Selina) Ladner, Skippy Ladner, Robin (Christine) Ladner, Danny (Anna) Ladner, and Wendell Ladner, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was a humble wife of a Mason and a proud member of the Eastern Star. Her tightly knitted family and closest friends were what her world revolved around. She absolutely adored children and always spoiled every kid she was ever around. Although she only physically gave birth to 2 children, she was also a "Bonus Mom" to several other children who cherished her dearly. Jean loved to sightsee and travel the country with her family in her earlier years. A log cabin in the Smoky Mountains was her favorite getaway, but her very own special happy place consisted of back porch sitting in her "Moo Moo" enjoying her beautiful view of all of her farm animals and the best cup of home-brewed coffee you'll ever find south of the Mason-Dixon. Jean loved puzzles in her spare time, binge-watching Gunsmoke, Family Feud, and every western ever made. Jean loved her small little dogs probably more than she liked most people. Jean had a heart as good & pure as gold. She was one of the strongest and kindest souls of any woman you'd ever meet, just as long as you never double-crossed her because she was a force to be reckoned with. She was just as sweet as she was a spitfire. If you ever asked for her advice, she shot it to you straight and told you exactly how she felt and how the cow ate the cabbage. Jean knew everybody, and everybody knew Jean. This sweet woman never met a stranger. Any stranger who did meet her surely never forgot her. To know her is to love her because you couldn't get to know her without falling in love with her spunky personality. She touched and forever impacted the many lives of all who were blessed enough to know her. She will forever be greatly missed, and our world will never be the same without her. Services for Ms. Jean will be Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at Shiloh Baptist Church in Perkinston, beginning at 9:30 am for Visitation, followed by a Funeral Service, beginning at 11:00 am with Interment at Smith Family Cemetery directly after. Trinity Funeral Services is honored to serve the Smith family during this time and would ask that you remember Dillus, Gabrel, and the rest of the family in your thoughts and prayers over the coming days.