The Dash of Mrs. Josephine Marie Spates-Smith

Josephine Marie Spates-Smith (Josie) was born May 27, 1932, to the late Joseph Spates and Annie T Tatum-Spates. Josie was the second child out of four children. She was proceeded in death by her husband M.B (baby ray), and three son’s Steffen, Porter, Reginald, and two daughter’s Rae and Gayle. In Laws Aaron Smith, Jessie Smith, Sister’s Dolores Spencer, Mildred Walker and Brother Joseph Spates Jr., Sister in laws Annie Pearl Smith, Dorothy Smith, brother in laws Porter Smith and AC Smith, Delbert Spence Sr, and Edward Walker.  Aunts Peggy Mae Bettis and Loretta Arnwine, Mary Kilgore, Harriet Jones, Uncles John Spates, favorite cousin Charlotte Bailey and Son in law Jerome Sanders Jenkins they will be forever in our hearts.

Josephine was also known as Josie, but everyone had a special name that her children and grandchildren called her such as Mama, Ma Dukes, G money, G and moephine. Josie was Baptist at an early age and attended Fidelity Baptist Church and later on frequent visited The Word Church.  Josephine attended Cleveland Public School. However, she left high school in 12th to help her family. Josie had several jobs from working in the neighborhood drug store, cab driver, Cleveland Transit Bus and she ran policy house before lottery became legal. Josie married her sweetheart for over 50 years M.B. Smith aka (baby Ray) where there were ten children Ma Duke was the neighborhood mom where she open her arms and her heart to family and neighborhood friends, Josie had girlfriends that she hung out with Sarilyn Watson-Thomas and her other friends that has passed away such as Brenda Woods, Norma Jean Egler, Louise Hardnick, Esther Randolph, Lillian Harris, Dorothy Pempton, Marian Brown and her favorite cousin Charlotte Bailey and she stay in close contact with all of their children.

Josie loved to cook and when she cooked the neighborhood children came running, and she never turned them away. Even though there were ten children in the house family and friends were all welcome. Ma dukes loved to go out to eat and her favorite restaurant Red Lobster, take trips, cruises, play bingo, lottery, gambling at the casino, bet on horses at thistledown and wheeling down track, casino trips, and playing cards on Saturday with family and friends and at every family holiday gathering there would be a card game going on.

Josie lived life to the fullest 92 glorious years. However, during these last 2 ½ months of her life she contracted covid, flu, c diff and a stroke on the right& left side of her body within weeks of being hospitalized, and she suffered from diabetes for over 40 years. As a result, she suffered kidney failure which led to her kidney declining and multiple setbacks until the day she passed away. She was a fighter and fought till the end and she refused to give up. The family received a call on April fool’s day that she was not going to make it but my Ma duke proved them wrong by making it, a joke was on them. However, the next day came, and we received a phone for the family to be by her bed side. Ma duke ended the fight when God called her home with family by her side on Tuesday April 2, 2025, at 2:26pm.  Although are hearts are heavy, we find comfort in knowing that she is free of sickness and no more pain. We will always cherish her memories, and unconditional love. Ma duke gave to all of us her forever love and affection. She leaves her legacy of children Harriet Spencer, Lawrence Spates, Renette Campbell (William), Ronda Smith-Jenkins and Joseph Spates (Crystal). Josie leaves a legacy of 20 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren and 16 great- great grandchildren. Her best friend Brenda Woods(deceased) and Jesse Bryant (deceased), and their children which was her god children Rebecca, Jesse, Rosemary, Hole, Charlissa, Queenie, Lonnie and her grand god daughters Ronea, Rita (Nene) Egler, and host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Humbly submitted family