Ellington

One of the first African Americans to serve on the Jackson City Council died of natural causes Wednesday morning. Doris Smith was 79-years-old. Smith was a civil rights activist and pioneer before she won the Ward Three City Council seat. She joined E.C. Foster and Louis Armstrong as the first black city representatives after the governing body changed from a three person commission to a seven member council form of government in 1985....

Smith lost the seat to current Ward Three Councilman Kenneth Stokes in 1989. Funeral services for former Jackson City Council woman Doris Smith will be held 11 o'clock Saturday morning at New Zion Church on Cottonwood Drive in Jackson.

Rest in peace, Ms. Smith.