Mary Ellen Smith Gaddie, known to her family as "Mama," "Granny," and "Grammy," passed away peacefully in New Orleans on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. She was 92.

Mary Ellen was born on August 13, 1933, in Slidell, Louisiana, to Thelma Jones Smith and Joe Smith. She was raised with strong values of education and determination that shaped her life and left a lasting mark on her family.

Education was Mary Ellen's calling. She earned her bachelor's at Oklahoma City University, her master's degree at the University of Oklahoma, and pursued doctoral studies. For decades, she served as a dedicated teacher, pouring wisdom, patience, and encouragement into generations of students. She believed deeply in the power of learning to transform lives and carried that conviction into every classroom she entered.

Outside of work, Mary Ellen embraced life with energy and spirit. She liked to start her mornings with a walk and took joy in her garden and caring for her many plants, blessed with a true green thumb. She delighted in crossword puzzles, her pencil always at the ready, and she liked keeping up with the local news on her favorite station, WDSU.

A lifelong sports fan, she especially loved watching basketball, cheering on both college and professional teams. Though allergic to seafood, she adored vanilla ice cream, a favorite treat she never passed up. Her family fondly remembers her spunky personality, her love of talking, and her unmatched appetite: she could out eat nearly anyone at the table. Above all, her greatest joy was her family, her "babies" and her "grandbabies," as she always called them.

She is survived by her daughter, Sylvia Gaddie; daughter-in-law, Dansenia Jackson-Gaddie; and her grandchildren Maya Gaddie, Anthony Valdez, Simone Davis and James "Jimmy" Jr. Gaddie. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren Jazlyn "Maddy" Gaddie, Jett Walker, and Crew Walker, along with her beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her beloved children Beverly Gaddie, Janie Gaddie, and James "Jimmy" Gaddie; her granddaughter Jasmine Gaddie; her sister Joyce Bradford; her brothers Clarence Smith, Walter Smith, and Louis Jay Smith; and her sister-in-law Alberta Smith.

Though she endured profound losses in her lifetime, Mary Ellen's resilience, love, and quiet strength never wavered. She carried herself with dignity and passed on values of curiosity, perseverance and kindness that continue to shape those who knew her best.

A memorial service celebrating her life will be held October 3rd, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. The family asks that, in place of flowers, donations be made to the American Cancer Society.

Mary Ellen will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and teacher whose wisdom and care touched many lives. Her family takes comfort in knowing that her legacy lives on in the lessons she taught, the strength she embodied, and the love she carried in her own way.

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