A Token of Lillie Mae Bacon Slater Smart Life Reflections

"A precious one from us is gone, a voice we loved so dear is still, a place is vacant in our home the world can never fill." Lillie departed this life on Friday, August 28, 2026, at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Braselton, Georgia. "I am in heaven now and there is a great relief in knowing, Jesus is now my everlasting light."

Childhood

Lillie Mae Bacon Slater Smart was born on November 23, 1931, to the late Ed and Mary Jane Bacon Denmark. She was the last surviving sibling out of eleven children. She was the granddaughter of the late Jake and Polly Ann Moore. Lillie Mae was only 9 months old when her father was killed. As a child, she grew up in the Bulloch/Evans County, Georgia area and recalled a lot of cooking and babysitting her siblings' children at a very young age. As a child, it was not an option... Lillie was taught to help each other.

Education

Lillie Mae attended the Evans County Longhorn School System, where she loved to play basketball and wore the #3 jersey proudly. She was GOOD in basketball! Lillie recalled having to walk over six miles one way to get to school. She remembered catching up with her brothers in school in the fourth grade before they quit school to work. She loved school, was very smart, earned A's and B's throughout school, and graduated in 1953. Lillie was the last living Longhorn classmate. Lillie Mae always had the desire to further her education and would take classes at Vidalia Tech, Swainsboro College, Savannah State, and Georgia Southern College to further her career. Lillie Mae's latest classes were with Stratford University Career Institute, at the age of 86 years old in 2017. From 2017 to 2025, she loved her mail-order courses where she focused on Early Childhood Education at Stratford University.

Church

Lillie Mae was born into a family that believed in Church! As a child, she attended The Historic Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church. Moved away and returned to The Historic Mount Pleasant Missionary Church, where she sang in the choir for years. Lillie moved on to become an usher for over fifty years, the church Secretary of the Cemetery for many years, and Secretary of Sunday School for over twenty-nine years. In 2017, Lillie Mae was recognized as the Mother of the Year of the Historic Mount Pleasant Missionary Church, Church Convention Inc (GMBC) as an usher. Lillie Mae was a faithful and dedicated servant to her church.

Work

Lillie Mae recalled working in private homes, Wombles Bakery, Claxton Poultry, Claxton Manufacturing Sewing Company, and the Claxton Egg Plant. She held these jobs for three to eight years. She left the Sewing Manufacturing plant and went on to work for the Evans County Board of Education School System for twenty-four years as a teacher's aide. After retiring from the Board of Education, she worked at a daycare for three years. After retiring from the school system, she took up the trade of Private Home Health Care as a sitter, where she would sit with the Elderly. For most of Lillie Mae's employment, she always held two jobs.

Community

For over forty years, she was an advocate for the Civil Rights movement, serving as the NAACP Secretary for twenty years. The meeting would be held at the Masonic Hall... the 2-story block building on Grady Street that still stands today.

Marriage/Kids

On January 24, 1955, Lillie Mae married James Turner Slater, Sr. (Buddy), and to this union five children were reared. Lillie and Buddy traveled for years while he was in the Army to New Jersey for many years before moving to Savannah and from there back to Claxton to be closer to family. She was preceded in death by Lillie Jane (Nig), deceased December 3, 2010, and great grandson, Kwasie, Jr. deceased February 9, 2023.

Lillie Mae leaves to cherish her memories: her children: James Turner Slater, Jr., of Claxton, GA, Clinton Thomas Slater, Sr. (Marion) of Stone Mountain, GA, Willie James Bacon and Jacquline Ann Slater Greenhouse, both of Buford, GA; sisters-in-law: Katherine Sapp and Ernestine Badger-Henderson,both of Oakland, California; Jenel Hayward (Roy) and Annie Grace Badger, both of Claxton, GA; brothers-in-law: Ernest R. Badger of Daly City, CA and Willie E. Badger of Sacramento, CA; one daughter-in-law: Rhonda Slater of Claxton, GA; twenty-four grandchildren: Dorothy Porter (Alan of Claxton, GA, Kwasie Baddy, Sr.of Marietta, GA, Demetria Lashaun Slater (Schandra) of Locust Grove, GA, Willie James Slater, Jr. of Buffalo, Missouri, Michael Terrell Slater (Janita) of Jacksonville, FL, Kodi Riko Slater (Whitney) of Claxton, GA, Chinook Bacon of Oakland, CA, Eilisha Bacon and Vajay Bacon, both of Las Vegas, NV, Shada Leigh Washington of Long Beach, CA, Shayla Chantal Washington Norton (Ebony) of Hinesville, GA, Staff SGT James Bernard Washington, Jr. (JB) of Fort Riley, KS, DioVinte Rodrique Slater of Kennesaw, GA, Clinton Thomas Slater, Jr. (Shalonda) Monroe, GA, Shalentia Kenyette Bacon, Mariah Hope Slater, Maximiliano Issac Slater, lgnaco Ryan Slater, Remedy LaDonna Slater, Sofia Liliana Slater, Brisa Elise Slater, Evelia Skye Slater, Esperanza Rose Slater, and Josie Aniyah Slater, all of Buford, GA, twenty-seven great- grandchildren and nine great-great grandchildren; Two GOD given, bonus, extended son and daughter, Earlist and Demetria Johnson of Buford, GA; and a host of nieces, nephews, and a vast number of friends who love her.

In July of 1988, Lillie Mae married Floyd Smart, who preceded her in death.

Lillie would stand proud to say, I HAVE HAD SOME GOOD DAYS AND SOME BAD DAYS, BUT THE GOOD DAYS OUTWEIGH THE BAD DAYS! Which is one of her favorite songs. One of her favorite sayings was WHERE THERE IS A WILL THERE IS A WAY! For we can do and go a long way when we don't look for excuses. For I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.