WHITMIRE — Mrs. Jessie Lee Fant Epps Smith was born Sept. 28, 1929, in Newberry County to the late Eldridge and Mattie Rice Fant. She transitioned to eternal rest on Sept. 15, 2011.

She served as a mother to the community and provided child care for countless children while employed and after her retirement from J.P. Stevens Mill.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Mr. Anderson Epps and Mr. Charles Smith, and all of her siblings.

She is survived by four sons, Randy (Teresa) Epps, Carl (Delores) Epps, Lamar (Neda) Epps and Ray Smith; eight daughters, Sandra Winbush, Joyce (Jessie) Murphy, Sharon (Anthony) Jamison, Wendy (Jonatthon) Adams, Hope (Thomas) Rivers, Jessie Epps, Linda Epps and Andrea (Michael) Dawkins; 17 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and a host of relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held Tuesday from noon-8 p.m. at Hunter Funeral Home in Whitmire.

Funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011, at Flint Hill Baptist Church in Whitmire.

Hunter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.