Jackson Jambalaya

 Jane Hawkins Smith, wife of Bill Smith and mother of Lucien Smith, peacefully passed away Sunday.   Posted below is her life story and funeral arrangements. 

Jane Hawkins Smith died on October 18, 2026 after a very brief fight with cancer. Jane was born on July 29, 1952 in McComb, Mississippi to Dr. Merrill Morris Hawkins of Double Springs, Mississippi and Carrie Lee Hawkins, of Gillsburg, Mississippi. She lived with her parents in Mars Hill and Centreville, where her mother was an elementary school teacher and her father served as superintendent of schools.

In 1955, she moved with her parents to Vicksburg where her father served as Assistant Superintendent of Schools. He would later serve at Superintendent of the Vicksburg Public Schools. She loved her time in Vicksburg and always talked about how wonderful the people were there. She especially loved helping her mother host contestants in the Mississippi Pageant.

In 1965, the family moved to Starkville, where her father became Assistant Dean of the College of Education at Mississippi State University and shortly thereafter the Dean of the College.

She attended Starkville High School, where she would meet her high school sweetheart and future husband Bill. During her time at Starkville High, she was the president of multiple student organizations, a member of the Cardinal Key national honor society, was selected as a maid on the homecoming court, and was elected Miss Starkville High School.

In 1970, she moved just down the road to begin her time at Mississippi State University. She initially majored in Spanish, before graduating with a Bachelors and Masters in Education. She pledged and was initiated into the Phi Delta chapter of Chi Omega where she served in numerous leadership roles, ultimately serving as chapter president. It was here that she met many of her closest friends including the still very active group text known affectionately as the “River Rats.” She was also a member of Kappa Delta Pi honorary society and served as a one of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Little Sisters of Minerva, and was selected as SAE Sweetheart in 1971.

Bill and Jane married on August 4, 1974 at First Methodist Church in Starkville. Jane taught at Oxford Elementary while Bill earned his law degree from the University of Mississippi. After Bill’s graduation, they moved to Jackson, which would be their home for the rest of her life, although she and her family maintained a close connection to Starkville.

They welcomed their first child, Lucien, on October 19, 1980, and their daughter, Carrie, on May 30, 1983. Jane was an extraordinary mother, who worked daily to raise her children in a home full of love. She made sure that her children had every opportunity to participate in any activity or opportunity they wanted. She loved Lucien and Carrie’s friends like her own, ensuring that they all could enjoy her well known recipes of pizza dip and takeout from anywhere they wanted.

Jane taught in the Jackson Public Schools at Bradley Elementary before deciding to pursue a career in Real Estate with Elizabeth Knight Realtor, a profession she primarily took up to be able to give more to her children. She obsessed over delivering for her clients, all of whom were her friends or became her friends, even worrying about helping with a sale from her hospital bed. She was universally recognized as the premiere realtor for homes in the Belhaven neighborhood during her active decades.

Jane was an active member of her community, volunteering her time with the Junior League of Jackson, where she served as a member of the 1992-1993 Board of Directors, and with the Saint Andrew’s Episcopal School Parents’ Association, serving as president from 1994-1995, and as a member of the St. Andrew’s Board of Trustees from 1993-1995. Jane was a member of the Gallery Guild, the Belhaven Garden Club, the Antiques Club, and the 21 Club.

At Galloway United Methodist Church, she was a faithful member of the Wednesday morning bible study and the Mary Martha Guild, which provides funeral meals to members who have lost loved ones.

Jane had an unbelievable amount of friends all of whom she adored. She enjoyed traveling with them on trips to the beach, to the mountains, and to her beloved France. She often was alongside Bill as they traveled to support the Mississippi State Bulldogs with their Kennel Klub and Garden Lane crews.

Jane’s great vocation was her family, whom she served with boundless love. She doted on her grandchildren, spoiling them mercilessly, to the great irritation of their parents. A visit to their grandmother’s, whom they called D, always entailed an endless buffet of nutella toast, macaroni and cheese, and Chick-fil-A, along with individualized television programming. Jane rarely ever left the house without thinking about what new toys she could purchase Liam, McEwen, and Cooper — and sometimes the granddogs too.

Jane’s last day on earth was idyllic, listening to services at Emanuel Episcopal Church in Athens, Georgia and Saint Andrew’s Cathedral and surrounded by her husband and children. In her final moments, her children held her hands and prayed for her before she died in peace and without suffering.

A longtime Methodist and member of Galloway, who often attended Episcopal services with her children and grandchildren, Jane would be surprised, but pleased, to learn that she will be celebrated with a requiem eucharist at the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew on Thursday, October 22 at 2:30 p.m. A visitation and celebration of life will follow poolside at the Country Club of Jackson beginning at 4 p.m.

Jane is survived by her husband of fifty-two years, Bill, her brother Mel (Kim), her son Lucien (Bethany), her daughter Carrie, and her three grandchildren, Liam, McEwen, and Cooper.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Sunshine Fund at the University of Georgia or to Making the Way, the lower school capital campaign for the Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Day School. Obituary

Mrs. Smith was an avid reader of this website.  I had the pleasure of visiting her a few weeks ago at Methodist Rehab.  The cancer was ravaging her body but the smile was as radiant as ever.  She was quite the conversationalist as the mind remained sharp as the body failed.   She was a lovely lady and truly a blessing to those who knew her.  Rest in peace, Mrs. Smith.