Gussie Mae Gilmore Smith

Gussie Mae Gilmore-Smith was born July 15, 1946, in Columbia, SC the beloved daughter and the youngest of seven children born to the late Cidney and Gussie Belle Howell-Gilmore. Gussie has always had a feistiness about her, and she went out with that same fighting nature. She departed this life on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at her residence surrounded by her loving children.

Gussie attended Richland County Public Schools and worked at various jobs.

Gussie joined Friendship Baptist Church at an early age. She participated in many church activities such as Women’s Day, church anniversaries, and other church activities within the community.

Gussie was a fun-loving person with a big heart who. She would give you the shirt off her back and was known for her cooking. She would feed anyone (as long as you stayed on her good side). If you knew Gussie, you know! She enjoyed spending time with family and friends and making people laugh. Gussie was always the life of the party. She showed what it was to have a mother's love, not just for her nine children, but for all the children in her family and community. To know her was to love her.

In addition to her parents, Gussie was also preceded in death by, two older brothers, Frank Gilmore and Aaron Gilmore, Sr.; two older sisters, Randy Jones, Jessie Belle Myers; and two grandchildren, Calvin Bryant, Jr., and Marquise Smith.

She is survived by her nine loving children, Terry (Cornell) Bush, Fabian (Candice) Gilmore, Nathan Gilmore, Joseph Smith Jr., Tammy Smith, Antonio Smith, Tameika Smith, Tarsheka (Demitrics) Sanders, and Shanta Smith,  two special children, her niece, Angela Thomas, and a son that she grew to love as her own, Calvin “Ricky” Bryant;  her brother, Willie Gilmore, Sr., and sister,  Helen Neal all of Columbia, SC. Gussie also leaves behind to cherish her memory, a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other loving relatives and dear friends, all of whom loved her dearly, and will miss the loved that she shared with her family and friends.  

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