Ruth Opal Smith Maxwell
July 21, 1931 – August 15, 2023

Funeral services for Ruth Opal Smith Maxwell, 92, of Cairo, GA, are at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, August 19, 2023, at Pine Level Baptist Church, Cairo, GA.  Rev. Jim Weaver will officiate.  Interment will be in the Maxwell Cemetery, Cairo, GA.  Mrs. Maxwell passed away at Archbold Memorial Hospital in Thomasville, GA, on Tuesday, August 15, 2023.

Active pallbearers will be Jason Harrell, Drew Lamb, Jonathan Anderson, Steven Eppes, Sean Maxwell and Nathan Maxwell.

Mrs. Maxwell was born on July 21, 1931, in Port Salerno, FL, to the late Donovan Smith and Thelma Vause Smith.  On April 5, 1947, she married James William Maxwell, who preceded her in death on December 16, 2002.  Before her retirement, she was a school crossing guard.  She was a devoted member and long time Sunday school teacher of Pine Level Baptist Church in Cairo.

Survivors include: daughter, Thelma Lewis (Gene) of Pelham, GA; grandchildren, Hannah Eppes (Steven) of Valdosta, GA, April Anderson (Jonathan) Wewahitchka, FL, Brandi Lamb (Andrew) of Pelham, GA, Nathen Maxwell of Stewart, FL, Sean Maxwell of Stuart, FL, Jason Harrell (Brandi) of Cairo, GA; 9 grandchildren; sister, Annette Bush of Stuart, FL, May Wojcieszak of Stuart, FL; brother, David Smith of Stuart, FL; son-in-law, Wayne Harrell of Cairo, GA; daughter-in-law, Laura Maxwell of Cairo, GA; sisters-in-law, Gloria Hobby (Jesse Linford) of Cairo, GA, Wilma Maxwell of Cairo, GA, Patsy Maxwell of Thomasville, GA; and a host of nieces, nephews and extended family.

She was preceded in death by: her parents; her husband; daughter, Maybelle Maxwell, Patricia Ann Harrell; son, Jimmy Maxwell; and brothers, Alonzo Smith, Richard Smith, Donovan Smith, Oliver Smith.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Mrs. Maxwell’s memory to: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

The family will receive friends at Pine Level Baptist Church immediately following the graveside committal service.