Obituaries

Marry Jane Smith, 84, passed away on March 28, 2025. Funeral will be 10 am Saturday at First Baptist Church of Jeffersontown, 10600 Watterson Trail with interment in Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 – 8 pm Friday, also at the church.

Mary Jane’s other calling was nursing. With her comforting spirit, it was a perfect match! She began her post graduation career at Humana Hospital University surgical and ER departments. She retired after several decades of service. Mary worked the overnight shift at the hospital, went home to sleep for a few hours, then attended Sunday School and church. Mary Jane was well known for attending family events large and small, taking her mother to family functions, numerous programs, and events for her children as well as her nieces and nephews. Mary Jane had a love for reading, researching her family history, watching U of L basketball and football, as well as growing plants and flowers.

Mary Jane’s greatest LOVE was family! The loves of her life she leaves to cherish her memory are son, LaVelle Smith Jr. and daughter, Lola Lowry; granddaughter, Chrysa (Fredrick) Jackson; great-grandson Easton Henry Jackson and great-granddaughter D’Neiyah Steward of Louisville, KY; David Combs, nephew / son, of CA; sisters Jackie G. Shelby Stubbins and Shermetta (Kenneth) Mayberry of Louisville, KY; Dr. Rosetta Shelby-Calvin of Little Rock, AR. Mary Jane leaves to celebrate her life and legacy numerous nieces and nephews, especially the Volkswagen Beetle Cousin Crew; her best friend, Cheryl McQuilling, and extended family and friends. Mary Jane is proceeded in death by parents Rev. Frank J. L. Shelby Sr., and Ola Valentine Shelby, brother Rev. Frank J. L. Shelby, Jr., sister Carolyn Shelby Perry, and niece Jacqueline Cammie Calvin.