Ms. Johnnette Lynn Smiley, age 52 of Winnfield, Louisiana was born Friday, October 30, 1970 in Ruston, Louisiana and passed away on Sunday, December 25, 2022 in Winnfield.

Miss Smiley, a beloved daughter, fur-mama to four dogs, teacher, sister to Natalie and Renea, and a friend to many. She enjoyed watching college, specifically LSU, and NFL football. When she wasn't in the classroom with her "babies" as she called them, you could find her coaching basketball, softball, or track. She had a passion for her students and career as anyone could tell by her dedicated 24 years as a teacher. Though she taught various subjects along the way, her favorite was math. The subject math was everyone's least favorite, and Johnnette knew that. She wanted for every child to succeed in her class and went as far as offering after school tutoring to ensure their success. She never gave up on her students just as she never gave up in her battle with cancer.

If anyone knew Johnnette, then they knew she loved to shop. She loved shopping so much her, Kay, and Natalie left at 4:00 AM one Saturday morning just to go shopping in Vicksburg. She loved shopping for antiques with her mom and for anything Charlie Brown. Her collection was outstanding. I mean, who else had an astronaut Snoopy figurine with its matching newspaper article? Aside from shopping, she enjoyed being outdoors. She loved when Renea and Durane were able to load her up and take her fishing. Oh, let's not forget about her love for touring Victorian plantations and ghost adventures which are stories for another time.

On Monday, her internet browser was left open from her recent search history. There, it was found she was reading the 23rd Psalms. This chapter reflects who Johnnette was; a fighter, but one who found her strength from God. She found comfort in her last days through prayer and God's word. On December 3rd, she made a post on Facebook explaining her excitement with getting to go home soon. In her post she stated, "No greater gift than to be home for Christmas." How great is it that she, indeed, got to go home for Christmas in heaven with our Savior? She also stated in her post, "I just want to be home. I'm ready!" Though she knew her days were coming to an end, we may not always have time to prepare. We should always make sure that we are ready to go home just as Johnnette was.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Grant Smiley and her father, Travis Lane Smiley.

Survivors include her mother, Sandra Kay Smiley and her four-legged children, Junior, Jake, Rosie and Peewee.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at Southern Funeral Home with Rev. Jessie Henderson officiating. Interment will follow in Sardis Cemetery, in Atlanta.

The family will receive friends at Southern Funeral Home on Tuesday from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM, and again on Wednesday from 1:00 PM until time of services.

Serving the family as pallbearers will be Danny Kellogg, Jason Blundell, Jacque Derr, David Procell, Vernon Weeks and Tom Yannarella.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Heart of Louisiana Humane Society or St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.southernfuneralhome.com