Mrs. Katie Smith Poole of Sandersville passed away on Saturday, May 28, 2022, at the Augusta University Medical Center. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 4 at 1:00 P.M. in the New Birth Christian Ministries at 409 Zeta Street of Tennille. The family will privately hold interment and will receive friends on Wednesday, June 1, Thursday, June 2, and Friday, June 3, beginning at 4:00 P.M. each evening at 690 Highway 68 South in Tennille.
Mrs. Poole was born in Sandersville, Georgia on January 4, 1934. She was the first of six children born to the parentage of the late Mr. Bobby Lee Harris, Sr. and the late Mrs. Buerena Simmons Harris. Katie accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior at the age of eight and was a faithful lifelong member of Bold Spring Baptist Church, serving as Church Clerk, Treasurer of Sunday School, Youth Advisor, and Secretary of the Missionary Department.
Mrs. Poole was a 1950 graduate of the T. J. Elder High School as Valedictorian at the age of sixteen. She would then attend Fort Valley State College and graduate from the Dudley M. Hughes School of Practical Nursing. Katie also attended many workshops at the University of Georgia, Georgia Southern University, and Macon Junior College.
Mrs. Poole was the owner and operator of M.C. Smith Funeral Home, Smith Medical Nursing Care Center, and Tin Tub Laundry. She was a Licensed Funeral Director, Nursing Home Administrator, and a Licensed Practical Nurse. During her career as a business owner, Kaite served her community in numerous capacities and believed the key to success was holding faith in God and working with citizens from elders to youth.
Mrs. Poole was affiliated with the Advisory Committee of Washington County Schools, American Health Care Association, Central Georgia Health System Agency Board, Georgia Real Estate Board, Georgia Funeral Service Practitioners Association (Treasurer), Downtown Merchant Association, Georgia Coalition of Black Women, Georgia Funeral Service Practitioners Association, Georgia Health Care Association, Habitat for Humanity (Founding Member), Hancock Missionary Baptist Association (Youth Director), Lincoln-Douglas League of Washington County, National Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association, Negro Business and Professional Women (NB&PW Founding Member), Plan Development Committee of Washington County, Sandersville Planning and Zoning Commission, Sandersville Regional Technical Institute (Founding Board), National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Washington County Chapter , Washington County Chapter of American Cancer Society, Washington County Council on Aging (Founding Member), Washington County Elderite Association (Treasurer, Academic/Cultural Affairs Chair), Washington County Pilot Club (Founding Member), Washington County Recreation Commission, and the Washington County Red Cross (Executive Board).
She was the recipient of the NAACP Appreciation Award, Optimist Club Appreciation Award, Pilot Club of Washington County Certificate of Service, Georgia Real Estate Commission Certificate of Distinguished Service for Twenty Years. Katie was Grand Marshall of 2010 Kaolin Parade. Mrs. Poole received resolutions from the Mayor and City Council of Sandersville for Community Service, the Sojourner Truth Award from the NB&PW, and Mortician of the Year from the Georgia Funeral Service Practitioners 1985 for her standards of excellence as awarded by her peers.
Mrs. Poole was considered a cornerstone of her community. She was known as a daughter, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, mother figure, mentor, leader, and friend. Katie dedicated her life to motivating and serving others. Mrs. Poole held great ambition and work ethic. She lived by the slogan, “can’t died and had two sons named will and try.”
Mrs. Poole is survived by six children, Mr. Melvin C. Fussell, Sr. of Sandersville, Louis A. Harris, Sr. of Sandersville, Mr. Marvin (Parish) Harris, Sr. of Tennille, Mrs. Cynthia (Willie) Ware of Hephzibah, Ms. Janise Harris of Sandersville, and Mrs. Belinda (Anthony) Watkins of Fredericksburg, Virginia; two sisters, Mrs. Jacqueline (Reverend Robert) Mitchell of Jacksonville, Florida and Ms. Barbara Harris of Atlanta; four brothers, Mr. B.L. (Annie) Harris, Jr. of Sandersville, Mr. Johnny (Virginia) Houston of Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Mr. Joe (Catherine) Houston of Atlanta, and Mr. James Crowder; nineteen grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
M.C. Smith Funeral Home in charge.