Pamela Jean Smith

Pamela Jean Smith, age 69, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 6, 2020 daughters home in Cumming, Georgia surrounded by her loved ones. Shortly before her passing, she managed to write her own 4-page obituary that was too lengthy to publish and failed miserably, despite its length, to fully celebrate the woman that she truly was. So, her controlling daughter re-wrote it in order to fully honor her.

She was born July 11, 1950, in Charleston, South Carolina at the US Naval Base to Robert and Beverly Williams. Shortly before her second birthday, her father passed away while serving our country through The United States Navy, when his ship, USS Hobson, collided with the aircraft carrier, Wasp. The Hobson was split in half in the collision and sank in four minutes, killing 174 crewmembers. At age 4, Pam was adopted by the man she called her Daddy, Jack H. Bass, who also faithfully served our country through The United States Navy. Her family relocated to Cochran, Georgia, where she spent most of her childhood and graduated from Cochran High School in 1968. Since her graduation, Pam has become a class reunion legend of sorts due to her love for dancing, and will be greatly missed by her surviving classmates. Pam went on to graduate from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in Education (1971) and Master of Education in Middle School Education (1985). She spent the majority of her adult life fully devoted to teaching others until she hung up her teaching career in 2018. However, the Lord decided that her teaching days were not over quite yet.

In September 2019, Pam was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic pancreatic cancer, and was given a 6 week to three-month death sentence. With full trust and faith in her Lord Jesus Christ, she bravely made a very personal decision to refuse chemotherapy treatments in order to LIVE out her final days here on Earth under home hospice care with a new life motto: Living abundantly until its eternally. With her infamous 70 item bucket list in hand, Pam taught the world around her how to truly live LIFE like you are dying, which included skinny dipping, indoor skydiving, rubbing every bald headed mans head she encountered, and singing Friends in Low Places and Amazing Grace at a local karaoke bar. She fully embraced the road of suffering ahead while displaying an unquenchable joy that contagiously brought hope and freedom to so many. During the last few months of her life, she truly taught others the most significant of life lessons up until the moment she drew her last breath. The legacy she lives behind is rich and powerful . . . far beyond material things this world has to offer. Her family has never been prouder.

She was preceded in death by her treasured Chihuahua, BJ (who was later affectionately re-named DD by her family, which was short for Devil Dog . . . the name explains itself) that passed away TWO days before her (how about that?!?!?); her brother, Jack H. Bass, Jr. (Jackie), who was tragically killed at age 36, and her infant sister, Nancy Ann Bass, who died at birth.

She leaves behind her son, Rusty Smith (Jensie) of Vidalia, Georgia; and her daughter, Amy Hobbs (Kerry) of Cumming, Georgia. To date, her favorite role in life and her greatest pride besides being BJs mother was her amazing grandchildren whom she dearly loved, Mary Katherine Hobbs, Caroline Hobbs, Addison Smith, Jack Hobbs, and Russell Smith. She taught her grandchildren much more than their parents approved and will take years of counseling to help them process through the lessons Nana Pam taught them.

In typical Pam fashion, she has chosen to go against the norm, and requested that there be no memorial service. This decision was made long before the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, she leaves us with the following . . . please dont cry because Im gone, instead be happy that I was here. Celebrate with me that I have FINALLY received the hot body that Ive always longed for thanks to cremation. But, today, I am happy, and I am dancing on the streets of gold, praising my Savior all the day long. This is my story. This is my song.

Pursuant to Pams specific instruction, a private ceremony will be held to scatter her remains in Charleston, South Carolina near the Battery once the Covid-19 shelter in place restrictions are lifted. In lieu of flowers, please consider a hefty donation to one of the following in her honor: First Baptist Church of Vidalia International Missions Fund or The Dream Center (Vidalia, Georgia).

Ingram Funeral Home Crematory, 210 Ingram Ave, Cumming, GA 30040 is in charge of arrangements.