Nov. 29, 1953 – Feb. 10, 2014

JACKSON — Services for Maxine Smith Lyles, 60, of Jackson, formerly of Natchez, who died Monday, Feb. 10, 2014, at University of Mississippi Medical Center, will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Pearl Street African Methodist Episcopal Church, 2519 Robinson Street, Jackson.

Burial will follow in Garden Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Westhaven Memorial Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mrs. Lyles was born Nov. 29, 1953, in Natchez, the daughter of Albert and Harriett Smith.

She was baptized and received her early Christian training at Grove African American Episcopal Church in Natchez. She later joined Pearl Street African Methodist Episcopal Church.

While at Pearl Street, Maxine served in various capacities including, member of the Laura Felts Missionary Society, director for the Young People’s Department (YPD) for more than eight years, member of the Christian Education Commission, Unit 4 Leader of the Laura Felts Missionary Society and member of the area, conference, connectional level of the WMS.

Mrs. Lyles was a 1971 honor graduate of South Natchez High School. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Jackson State University and did further studies at Mississippi State University.

She served humanity in many capacities leading to an extensive employment history, Catholic Charities in Jackson, Director of the Rape Crisis Center in Jackson, Adjunct Professor at Tougaloo College and Jackson State University, Director of Human and Cultural Services under former Mayor Kane Ditto, Executive Director of 100 Black Men of Jackson, Director of Project Hyperleap at Hinds Community College in Vicksburg and Executive Director of the Health and Wellness Center at Hinds Community College in Utica.

Survivors include two daughters, Kendria Lyles and Bria Walker, both of Jackson; one brother, E. J. Conner and wife, Brenda, of Natchez; two sisters, Joyce Smith Brown and Barbara Smith Winston, both of Natchez; seven nephews, Adrian Smith and wife, Nadra, of Natchez, L. Reginald Winston, of Summit, Edward Conner Jr., Travis Conner, Kelvin Williams, Terriance Conner and Tramain McMorris; four nieces, Yolanda Townsend Winding and husband, Demestra, of Natchez, Tangla Jones, Linda Jackson and Laquita Jackson; one Aunt, Lucy Perry, of Natchez; and a number of cousins and friends; she was a maternal figure in the life of Larry D. Walker II.