Martha Rambin Smith

Martha Ann Rambin “Honey” Smith

It is with great sorrow that the family of Martha Rambin Smith announces her passing on Monday, May 18, 2026, in Brandon, MS. She lived a life defined by her Catholic faith, love of family, and an appreciation for nature. Martha has been affectionately known as “Honey” ever since her granddaughter gave her this special name.

Our Honey was born on November 18, 1935, in Eldorado, AR, and grew up in Arkansas before moving to Bossier City, Louisiana. She was a Bossier High School Bearcat (“Yeah Green, Yeah White”) through and through, graduating with honors in 1953.

After graduation, she began working for the daily newspaper, The Bossier Tribune. It is believed that this is where her love for “always being in the know” began! It wasn’t long before Honey met a handsome Alabama boy, stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base. When she was first introduced to “Billy Charles Smith,” she punched him and said, “Yeah, right, what's your real name?” thinking he was just being coy. Lo and behold, that boy would turn out to be the love of her life. She and Billy married in 1954 and began their next chapter in North Alabama. Honey flourished in her new home state and again dove into her love of the newspaper business, joining the Florence Times-Daily.

Thrilled to start their family, Honey and Billy welcomed their son, Michael, in 1958, and later their daughter, Stacey, in 1961. Honey relished being a mother, always supporting and actively involved in her children’s lives. There wasn’t a volunteer job at school that she didn’t raise her hand for or a recital she ever missed. A marvelous cook, the family of four sat down each night to a delicious meal she had lovingly prepared. Honey sewed every play costume, the latest “groovy outfit” for her daughter, and every Boy Scout patch on her son’s Scout sash. There was just nothing she couldn’t do!

When the family was transferred to Brandon, MS, with Billy's job in 1975, Honey hit the ground running in her new hometown! To meet new friends and neighbors, she sold Avon.

Accomplishing her mission, she made lasting friendships! When her daughter left for college, she went to work for, you guessed it, a newspaper, The Rankin County News. After retirement, she and Billy went on many adventures together and enjoyed their many friendships until Billy’s passing in 1998.

Travel then became a central part of her life. She loved exploring Europe, Canada, and the United States. Other than Brandon, her favorite places were Ireland, England, and New York City. (She would be quick to insert here that she had seen Phantom of the Opera 10 times and on two continents!)

A founding member of the Rankin County Master Gardeners, she was truly a real hands-in-the- dirt kind of gardener. Honey would grab a leaf from this plant or that plant, take it home, plant it, and watch it grow! Anyone who had the pleasure of walking around her yard would be amazed at the array of plant offerings she gave a home to. Honey also made sure to grow host plants for butterflies to lay their eggs, for she was a frequent speaker at schools, churches, andlibraries on how to raise butterflies, always clad in her gardening overalls and bringing butterflies for members of her audience to release.

Honey’s love of people and joy of service gained her recognition as the Rankin County Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year, and she was appointed by Governor Ronnie Musgrove to the Mississippi Commission of Volunteer Service. She was also actively involved in the Brandon Pilot Club, the Rankin County Chamber Ambassadors, the Brandon Lioness Club, the Jackson Symphony League, and the St. Dominic Memorial Hospital Auxiliary.

A lifelong Catholic, Honey was a longtime member of the Cathedral of St Peter the Apostle. In her later years, St. Paul Catholic Church became her church home. She found great joy in attending Mass with her family and was extremely grateful for the wonderful friends she made there.

Honey was preceded in death by her loving husband of 44 years, Billy Charles Smith; her son, Michael; her mother, Mary Ann Sands (née Lovell); and her father, Paul H. Rambin.

Honey is survived by her daughter and best friend, Stacey Smith Ferreri; son-in-law, Glenn Ferreri; and her pride and joy, granddaughter, Gabrielle Ferreri. Sisters Paula Gregory of Benton, LA, and Claudia Myers (Don) of Minden, LA.; brothers Michael Rambin (Vicki) and Terry Adley (Colleen) of Bossier City, LA; many cherished nieces and nephews; high school and lifelong best friends Bobbie Jo Welch of Riverside, CA, and Kay Dean of Kaufman, TX, and her 14-year-old cat Scout. The family wishes to express their great appreciation to friend and caregiver Diane Fletcher, Linda Sanders, and all the sweet friends and staff who surrounded her while she was living at Castlewoods Place.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Paul Catholic Church Women's Ministries, 5971 Lakeland Drive, Flowood, MS 39232, or to the Rankin County Animal Shelter, 710 Marquette Road, Brandon, MS 39042.