Grace Singleton-Smith , VRHS Class of 1962
On February 15th, 2023, at 10:18am, Grace Singleton Smith transitioned peacefully, with her husband by her side, as well as her sisters who held her hands, prayed and sang her favorite gospel songs. Born November 21st, 1944, in Tullahassee, Oklahoma, Grace was the 8th child of Reverend Earl and Annie Mae Singleton. The family moved from Oklahoma to New York several years later where Grace attended and graduated from Van Rensselaer High School in Rensselaer, NY. After the passing of her mother, Grace moved to the state of Michigan. She was employed with The Michigan State Housing Development Authority until her retirement. Grace met and married the love of her life Macklin (Mack) Palmer Smith and they experienced a happy life together. Married for over 30 years, they loved traveling together, attending the performing arts and shopping. In her youth, Grace was raised and worshipped in her father's church. She was the pianist in the church and sang with the church choir. After church, her family would have choir rehearsal in their home because she and most of her siblings were members of the choir. Her parents loved to host, as her mother would prepare food, while she and her father would enjoy listening to the family's harmonious sounds. Grace would tickle the keys, while her brother or uncle would play the guitar. Those were really good times. When Grace moved to Michigan, she searched for a church home. She joined St. Paul's Tabernacle Church of God in Christ, under the leadership of Bishop PA Brooks, COGIC General Board member, where she was an active member. She later joined New Hope Missionary Baptist Church due to the closeness of her home. Grace enjoyed going to her local mall where she would meet up with friends and power walk for 4-5 miles a day. Her friends called her "speedy" because she would often leave them in the dust. Grace was a fashionista, who taught, by example, her younger sisters Mittie and Gloria how to make style work. She was the original fashion police. Her sisters would happily receive all her hand-me-downs. One of Grace's favorite styles to this present time was the animal print. Traveling was one of her many loves, and whenever she traveled the country, or abroad, she would always invest in, or try to find something of an animal print. Because Grace was the oldest remaining sibling, she thought that qualified her to become the mother of the family; and it did! Her family would often listen to solicited, and unsolicited, advice because of their love and devotion to one another. Growing up in her household in Rensselaer, NY, she especially loved to spoil and dote upon her youngest sister Gloria and niece Alicia. She would spend hours playing and teasing them both. As adults, the tide changed, and her youngest sister and her niece began to spoil and dote upon her. They often lavished her with gifts that she loved and appreciated. She was so loved. Grace and her siblings were raised to love and respect each other. She was indeed "Momma Grace". Grace was preceded in death by her parents, Reverend Earl and Annie Mae Singleton; and eight siblings, Early, Eloise, Elizabeth, Ruby, Earl Jr., Robert, Earnest, and Joe. In addition to her loving and devoted husband Mack, she leaves to mourn, two sisters, Mittie (William) Rucker of Schenectady, NY and Gloria (Victor) Singleton of Newport News, VA; four brothers, Leonard Singleton of Tulsa, OK, Floyd (Andrea) Singleton of Schenectady, NY, Ceaser (Jean) Singleton of Charlton, NY, and Nadir (Jaaz) Muwwakkil of Lakeway, TX; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Grace's one request was to be brought home to the same resting place as her parents and siblings. So the family says, welcome home Grace, as we celebrate your home going. As 2 Corinthians 5:8 says, We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to present with the Lord.