Julia "Julie" Florine Pearson Smith

Funeral services for Julia (Julie) Florine Pearson Smith will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, December 24, 2022 in the chapel of Mulhearn Funeral Home Sterlington Rd. Monroe, with Rev. Warren Eckhardt officiating. Interment will follow in Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9:00 am until service time on Saturday, December 24. Mrs. Smith passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 22, 2022 at Lagniappe Healthcare in Bastrop, LA.

Julie was born June 24, 1943 in Kosciusko, MS to the union of Lola D. Shumaker and Wesley J. Pearson. She was raised in Kosciusko until she moved with her mother to New Orleans. While in New Orleans, Julie attended John McDonogh Senior High School and met the love of her life, John Rowan Smith III. She always loved Kosciusko and returned there to complete her high school studies. She was a 1962 graduate of Kosciusko High School. After graduation, Julie moved back to New Orleans. She and John married June 23, 1962. Julie turned 19 the next day. She joked that John aged her a whole year in one day of marriage.

Julie was a stay-at-home mom to her three children while living in New Orleans. In 1978 the family moved to Monroe. She worked at Central Bank and Deposit Trust as a teller in the mid to late 1980’s. In 1991, she and her husband, John, started an insurance business, Winchester General Agency. For many years, Julie worked alongside her husband and sons, Bernard and Brad, at Winchester. She was a devoted wife to her husband and enjoyed helping him run their insurance business. She worked at Winchester until retiring in 2018. Julie was a huge LSU Tigers and New Orleans Saints fan and her favorite player was Drew Brees. She was known as MawMaw to her grandchildren. She loved them immensely and will be deeply missed.

She was preceded in death by her husband John Rowan Smith III, parents Lola Shumaker Pearson Reith and Wesley J. Pearson, step father Joseph F. Reith, sisters Betty Pearson Swink, Ruth Marie Pearson Brown and niece Dana Swink Rogers.

She is survived by her three sons, John R. Smith IV and wife, Kathy of Bossier City, LA, Bernard J. Smith and wife, Katie of Monroe, LA and Brad J. Smith and wife, Laurie of Sterlington, LA; seven grandchildren, Timothy John Smith and wife Ashley, Chase Smith (Erin Mabry), Madison Smith, Chandler Smith, Bradley Ann Smith, Cooper Smith and Conner Smith; and two great grandchildren, Addison Smith and Mabry Smith. She is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers for the service will be her grandsons.

Julie had many special friends and neighbors over the years. Many thanks to Jan & Dan Behringer and The Enclave at Oliver Plantation families for their continued friendship.

The family would like to thank the staffs at Lagniappe Healthcare and Premier Hospice for all the care provided to Mrs. Smith during this time.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to make a donation to the Alzheimer's Association or the charity of your choice.