Donna Cotita Smith

Donna Cotita Smith, of Gautier, MS, 81, passed away on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. She was born on February 8, 1943, in McNeill, MS, the daughter of Benny Stepheno Cotita and Avis Mardell Strain Cotitia. She graduated from Pascagoula High School in 1961 where she played saxophone in the band and was a Majorette. She attended the University of Southern Mississippi where she was a homecoming maid.

Donna was an Interior Designer for Smith Homes, Inc., a passionate artist, a loving mother and a devoted wife. She was creative, had “great taste,” was always well dressed, even got “Best Dressed” in high school, and enjoyed spending time with family. She loved cooking, golfing, especially taking golfing trips with her husband, Kenny, and their friends.

Donna enjoyed oil painting, decorating, reading, golfing, working crossword puzzles, and playing Dominos and cards. She loved sitting in her sunroom and watching the view of river from her porch. Was a member of Martin Bluff Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School, loved Jesus, reading her Bible, and loved her long-time prayer group and friends. How she enjoyed entertaining people in her home, was often the life of the party, could be funny and could always recall the best jokes.

Donna is preceded in death by her parents, Benny Stepheno Cotita and Avis Mardell Strain Cotita, her first husband, Larry Edwin Cowart, Sr., and her second husband of 52 years, Kenneth (Kenny) Ozelle Smith.

Donna is survived by her three children and one son-in-law, Suzanne Cowart Martin of Gautier, MS, Larry E. Cowart, Jr. of Escatawpa, MS, Lana Smith (Benny) Watts of Gautier, MS; eight grandchildren, Jacques Martin, III, Jean Taylor Martin, Larry (Trey) Cowart, III, Brooke Cowart (Trent) Lawson, Miranda Cowart, B. Patrick Watts, III, Elijah Watts, and Nicholas Watts; four great grandchildren, Liston Martin, Jameson Martin, Maysen Claire Lawson and Riley Coy Lawson; Kenny’s nephew, Danny (Kim) Chancellor, close group of high school friends, as well as many friends and extended family members.

Pallbearers will be Jacques Martin, III, Jean Taylor Martin, Larry (Trey) Cowart, III, B. Patrick Watts, III, Elijah Watts, and Nicholas Watts.

Visitation will be Sunday, November 10, 2024, from 2:00pm – 4:00pm at O’Bryant - 0’Keefe Funeral Home, 4811 Telephone Rd, Pascagoula, MS. Funeral service will be on Monday, November 11, 2024, at 10:00am at O’Bryant - 0’Keefe Funeral Home Chapel. Grave side service will conclude at Machpelah Cemetery, 5112 Machpelah Rd., Pascagoula, MS.

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