Obituary for Francee Lebaron Smith "Jones"
Francee Lebaron Smith (Francis Jones), born November 26, 1949 in Mobile, AL
departed this life on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at Mobile Infirmary. Francee,
affectionately known as “Boo” and “Smitty”, was preceded in death by his parents,
Samuel Jones, and Rose Marie Jones; grandparents, Lena McCanty and Abraham
Brantley; one sister, Carolyn Lee Ezell and one brother, Kenneth Anthony Jones, Sr.
Francee attended Central High School where he played tuba in the Central High School
Marching Wildcat Band. In 1970 he left Mobile with a strong desire to see other places
outside of Mobile and he fulfilled his desire, staying away for 31 years until returning
home in 2001 where he worked for the City of Mobile as a CDL driver in Sanitation &
Trash Dept., retiring in March, 2022.
Francee leaves behind to cherish his memory a very devoted daughter, LaWanda
Monique McDonald and her mother, Catherine McDonald; two grandsons, Kentreal
(India) McDonald and Gary Moore, all of Mobile; four great-grandchildren; Parker
Moore, Kennedy McDonald, Kendrix McDonald and Kendal McDonald, and god-
daughter, Louise Lavet Menefee, Victorville, CA; two brothers, William Henry Smith, Jr.
and Representative Samuel L. Jones, all of Mobile. Three sisters, Rose Smith Williams,
Gloria Jones Sterling, Beverly Lee (Willie) Williams; and devoted sister-in-law, Sandra
Watson Jones, all of Mobile, AL and a special friend of many years, Margaret Collins.
A host of family and friends, two devoted Samuel Woods and Rudy Pleasant, and
devoted nieces and nephews, Sonya Hill Roberts, Roderick Williams, Donald Sterling,
Jr., Jessica Smith (Torrick) Finklea, Charlee Sanders, Tamika McCall (Clarence)
Abrams and Classmates of the 1970 class of Central High School.
Special thanks to Jeff Dees, City of Mobile Sanitation & Trash Dept., Dr. Robert Percy
and Dr. Jacob Webster along with the staff of Mobile Infirmary, especially those working
on the 2 nd , 3 rd and 4 th floors, staff in SICU, NICU PICU, Respiratory Team and the
Fresenius Dialysis staff on Old Shell Road. All were amazing in caring for Francee
during his time of need for their specialized skills and expertise, and we are very
grateful for their service!
Viewing:
Friday, March 24th , 2023
Small’s Mortuary & Cremation Services
950 South Broad Street
Mobile, AL 36603
Funeral Services:
Saturday, March 25th , 2023 at 11:00am
Holmes Street Missionary Baptist Church
316 Max Street
Prichard, AL 36610
Keithraum D. Leatherwood, Sr., Pastor
departed this life on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at Mobile Infirmary. Francee,
affectionately known as “Boo” and “Smitty”, was preceded in death by his parents,
Samuel Jones, and Rose Marie Jones; grandparents, Lena McCanty and Abraham
Brantley; one sister, Carolyn Lee Ezell and one brother, Kenneth Anthony Jones, Sr.
Francee attended Central High School where he played tuba in the Central High School
Marching Wildcat Band. In 1970 he left Mobile with a strong desire to see other places
outside of Mobile and he fulfilled his desire, staying away for 31 years until returning
home in 2001 where he worked for the City of Mobile as a CDL driver in Sanitation &
Trash Dept., retiring in March, 2022.
Francee leaves behind to cherish his memory a very devoted daughter, LaWanda
Monique McDonald and her mother, Catherine McDonald; two grandsons, Kentreal
(India) McDonald and Gary Moore, all of Mobile; four great-grandchildren; Parker
Moore, Kennedy McDonald, Kendrix McDonald and Kendal McDonald, and god-
daughter, Louise Lavet Menefee, Victorville, CA; two brothers, William Henry Smith, Jr.
and Representative Samuel L. Jones, all of Mobile. Three sisters, Rose Smith Williams,
Gloria Jones Sterling, Beverly Lee (Willie) Williams; and devoted sister-in-law, Sandra
Watson Jones, all of Mobile, AL and a special friend of many years, Margaret Collins.
A host of family and friends, two devoted Samuel Woods and Rudy Pleasant, and
devoted nieces and nephews, Sonya Hill Roberts, Roderick Williams, Donald Sterling,
Jr., Jessica Smith (Torrick) Finklea, Charlee Sanders, Tamika McCall (Clarence)
Abrams and Classmates of the 1970 class of Central High School.
Special thanks to Jeff Dees, City of Mobile Sanitation & Trash Dept., Dr. Robert Percy
and Dr. Jacob Webster along with the staff of Mobile Infirmary, especially those working
on the 2 nd , 3 rd and 4 th floors, staff in SICU, NICU PICU, Respiratory Team and the
Fresenius Dialysis staff on Old Shell Road. All were amazing in caring for Francee
during his time of need for their specialized skills and expertise, and we are very
grateful for their service!
Viewing:
Friday, March 24th , 2023
Small’s Mortuary & Cremation Services
950 South Broad Street
Mobile, AL 36603
Funeral Services:
Saturday, March 25th , 2023 at 11:00am
Holmes Street Missionary Baptist Church
316 Max Street
Prichard, AL 36610
Keithraum D. Leatherwood, Sr., Pastor