Beloved wife and mother, Irene Smith Carter, was born December 11, 1949, to the late Phillip Sr. and Earlene Smith in Scooba, Mississippi.

Irene accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at an early age. She was also a long time member of The House of the Lord.

Irene was united in holy matrimony to Obie (Sam) Carter, Sr. on July 26, 1969, in Cleveland, Ohio; and to this union three children were born.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Phillip Smith, Sr., Earlene Smith and sister, Bobbie Ann Kent.

Irene worked for Akron Public Schools as an assistant Head Start Teacher for 30 years. She loved the Lord and read the BIBLE from cover to cover and said it stood for Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. She loved music, dancing, playing cards, family and friends. She loved to help all people.

Her memories will remain forever with her loving husband of 50 years, Obie (Sam) Carter, Sr., three children, Gary Lamont Smith, Kimberly Denise (Theodore) Sims, and Obie (Jennifer) Carter, Jr.; brother, Phillip Smith, Jr; 15 grandchildren, Rhyan Martin, Bryan Martin, DeCarlo Smith, Dasha Smith, Deangelo Smith, Nickolaus Sales-Sims, Christopher Sims, Aaron Sims, Jazalyn Valley, Shana Carter, Maya Carter, Ariel Carter, Ariana Carter, Jacob Carter and Brittany McDaniel; 3 great grandchildren as well as a host of nieces, nephews and scores of beloved family and friends.