Mary McKinney Smither was born April 4, 1931 to the late Maurice McKinney and Eliza Jones in Point Blank, Texas. She grew up and attended  school in San Jacinto County and Walker County, Texas.

Mary found the Lord at an early age. She attended Little Bethel Primitive Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. James Bryant Sr.. She later joined Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, where at the time of her passing she was under the leadership of Pastor Ronald Eagleton. She served at Friendship as an usher for fifty years.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband: Lester Smither; son: Robert McKinney; mother: Eliza Gendrett; father: Maurice McKinney; sister: Maurice Hamilton; foster mother: Ada Mae Wilson; and grandson: Travis McKinney.

Mary leaves memories with her grandchildren: Chandra Tubbs, Yolanda McKinney and Robert McKinney Jr.; great-grandchildren: Robert D. McKinney, Robert T. McKinney, De-Vonte J. Tubbs and Juanetra D. Jackson; great-great grandchildren: Toriana McKinney and Kaiden Messiah; sisters: Georgia Rolling, Eadie Mae, Annette, Jeanette, and Stella; brother: Claude McKinney; aunt: Earlene Jones and a host of additional relatives and friends.