Willa Mae Smith

Brief Life History of Willa Mae

When Willa Mae Smith was born on 2 March 1936, in North Carolina, United States, her father, William David Smith, was 42 and her mother, Lona Lawson, was 36. She had at least 1 daughter with James Huston Harris. She lived in Belews Creek Township, Forsyth, North Carolina, United States in 1940 and Fentress Township, Guilford, North Carolina, United States in 1950. She died on 2 February 1976, in Bainbridge, Decatur, Georgia, United States, at the age of 39, and was buried in Patmos, Baker, Georgia, United States.

Photos and Memories (1)

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Family Time Line

James Huston Harris
1936–1986
Willa Mae Smith
1936–1976
Joy Harris
1972–2024

Sources (3)

  • Willie M Smith, "United States 1950 Census"
  • Mae Smith Harris, "Find A Grave Index"
  • Willie Mae Smith in household of William D Smith, "United States Census, 1940"

Spouse and Children

World Events (8)

1937 · The Neutrality Act

The Neutrality Acts were passed in response to the growing conflicts in Europe and Asia during the time leading up to World War II. The primary purpose was so the US wouldn't engage in any more foreign conflicts. Most of the Acts were repealed in 1941 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.

1942 · Germans Sink Ships Near St. Simons Island

Lights from homes along the coast of St. Simons Island provided a clear view of the SS Oklahoma for German U-boat Captain Reinhard Hardegen on April 8, 1942. A German torpedo was fired at the SS Oklahoma shortly after midnight. An hour later, a second torpedo was fired at the oil tanker Esso Baton Rouge. Both ships sunk and the attacks left 22 seamen dead. After the incident, residents of the Golden Isles panicked over concern of a German Invasion of the coast and were stringently observant of a nighttime blackout.  

1947 · The Presidential Succession Act

The Presidential Succession Act is an act establishing the presidential line of succession. This was a precursor for the Twenty-fifth Amendment which outlines what is to happen when a President is killed, dies, or is unable to fulfill the responsibilities of President.

Name Meaning

English and Scottish: occupational name denoting a worker in metal, especially iron, such as a blacksmith or farrier, from Middle English smith ‘smith’ (Old English smith, probably a derivative of smītan ‘to strike, hammer’). Early examples are also found in the Latin form Faber . Metal-working was one of the earliest occupations for which specialist skills were required, and its importance ensured that this term and its equivalents in other languages were the most widespread of all occupational surnames in Europe. Medieval smiths were important not only in making horseshoes, plowshares, and other domestic articles, but above all for their skill in forging swords, other weapons, and armor. This is also the most frequent of all surnames in the US. It is very common among African Americans and Native Americans (see also 5 below). This surname (in any of the two possible English senses; see also below) is also found in Haiti. See also Smither .

English: from Middle English smithe ‘smithy, forge’ (Old English smiththe). The surname may be topographic, for someone who lived in or by a blacksmith's shop, occupational, for someone who worked in one, or habitational, from a place so named, such as Smitha in King's Nympton (Devon). Compare Smithey .

Irish and Scottish: sometimes adopted for Gaelic Mac Gobhann, Irish Mac Gabhann ‘son of the smith’. See McGowan .

Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.

Possible Related Names

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