Essie Lee (Smith) Archie

Essie Lee Archie, daughter of Henderson and A.T. Pegues Smith, was born in Lafayette County, Mississippi on October 22, 1925, She accepted Christ as her savior at an early age and joined Union Hill M.B. Church and later in life she united with Second M.B. Church where she remained a member until death. 

Mother Archie received her formal education in the Lafayette County School district and went on to receive a degree in Social Work from Rust College in Holly Spring, MS and her first job was teaching in the Union Hill community school. She later worked at the university of Mississippi preparing meals but later became a food nutritionist receiving employment as a social worker for the State of Mississippi, where she worked until her retirement.

Mother Archie was united in matrimony to Frank Archie, Sr. and to this union six children were born. Mother Archie and her husband, Frank raised their children in Second Baptist Church where she served faithfully until her health failed. She was a member of the Senior Choir and had a lovely voice. She served on the Mother Board, and she loved going to church, cooking, singing, talking, sitting on the front porch, and spending time with her grandchildren. 

On Sunday morning, March 29, 2020, while in her home, the Lord dispatched down an angel to bring Mother Archie home to be with Him. She will be lovingly missed and remembered by her children: Barbara Carr,  Frank "Butch" (Lutricia) Archie, Willie H. Archie, Joyce A. Archie, and James Ivy, Jr. all of Oxford MS;  her sisters: Leona "Sally" (Chester) Starks and Beatrice (Herman) Pegues, both of Oxford MS; sister-in-laws: Eula Mae Smith and Mary Alice Smith both of Oxford MS; 14 grandchildren; 30 great grandchildren and 8 great-great grandchildren. She also leaves a host of niece, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Mother Archie was preceded in death by her parents, Henderson and A. T. Smith; her husband: Frank Archie, Sr.; her daughter: Bettie Goss; her siblings: Jake Smith, Effie C. Smith, A. Q. Smith, Ardesie Pegues, Girlender Smith, and Mary Lou Ivy.

Please keep her family in your prayers.