Mrs. Ruth Shell Smith was born on June 2, 1930, in Jackson, Mississippi, to the late Willie Shell and Saddie Collins Shell. She departed this life on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, at St Dominic Hospital at 5:30 a.m.

She was preceded in death by two brothers: Willie Shell Jr. (a.k.a BoMan) and Lee Samuels Shell Sr. (a.k.a J C); two grandsons: Manderro Crump and Galvin Welch; and one great-grandson, Sian Pullum.

She was united in holy matrimony in 1946 to the late Willie Shell Sr.

She leaves to cherish her memories, Five Sons and Two Daughter; Lanie (Chuck) Smith Feild, Jim (Caroline) Smith, Angie Smith, Kenneth (Denise) Smith, Timothy Smith Sr, Leroy (Pam) Smith Sr, Christopher (Vickie) Smith Sr, all of Jackson, Ms; twenty-two grandchildren, thirty-seven great grandchildren; One brother-in-law, Joe Milton; one sister-in-law, Mary Ann polk; two aunts: Elizabeth Little and Loretha Collins; two very special cousins; Martha Jones and Melinda Gardner; a long time friend, Mrs. Hattie Wells (a.k.a Mrs. Nieece), and host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.