Rossetta Lawrence Smith
May 26, 1933 ~ July 23, 2026
Born in: Clinton, Maryland
Resided in: Callaway, Maryland
Rossetta Lawrence Smith, 93 of Callaway, MD, went home to be with the Lord on July 23, 2026. She was born May 26, 1933, in Clinton, MD, to John Paul and Nellie Stewart Lawrence. She was educated in the Prince George’s and St. Mary’s County public school systems. Rossetta married Clarence Carroll Smith (deceased) on October 15, 1950, and together they raised seven children, Thomas, Thomasine (deceased), Patricia, Clara, John, Timothy and Phyllis. Rossetta had many jobs during her lifetime, but the most important of these other than raising her children, was the partnership with her late husband in the Smith & Son’s Lawnmower Repair Shop, a self-owned business opened by them in 1964. She was a long-time member of Bethesda United Methodist Church and more recently a watch care member of St. Mark UAME Church. She loved caring for seniors, cooking, gardening, gospel music and spending time with family and friends. Rossetta was preceded in death by her parents (John and Nellie Lawrence), her loving husband (Clarence Smith), six sisters (Mary Lawrence, Mae Johnson, Adele Harris, Inez Ivey, Henrietta Ball and Myrtle Johnson), three brothers (Thomas, Israel and Alexander Lawrence), daughter (Thomasine Thompson), Granddaughter (Kimberly Smith), Grandson (John Smith, Jr.), Great Granddaughter (Lakia Owens) and Great Grandson (Zane Smith). She leaves to cherish her memory, six children – Thomas Saxon (Ruby), Patricia Gray, Clara Brooks (Paul), John Smith (Dianne), Timothy Smith and Phyllis Smith. Son-in-Law Bernard Thompson, Godson, Alexander Statesman, thirteen grandchildren, twenty-six great-grandchildren, four great-great grandchildren, adopted sons Gary Lash and Dustin Parker, a host of nieces and nephews, a very special friend Johnie Brown, family friends Susan Hall, Larry Trossbach, Robert Parker, Mae Gross and many others too numerous to mention.
The family will receive friends on Friday, August 21, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Prayers recited at 7:00 PM in Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD. Funeral Services will take place on Saturday, August 22, 2026, with a visitation at 9:00 AM and service starting at 10:00 AM with Rev. Pete House, Jr. in the St. Mark UAME church, 45685 Happyland Rd. Valley Lee, MD 20692. Interment to follow in Bethesda UM Church Cemetery, Valley Lee, MD.
Repast will take place at St. Mark UAME Fellowship Hall Following all services.
Condolences may be made to the family at www.mgfh.com.
Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home and Cremation Services, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.
Services
Visitation: Friday, August 21, 2026 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home
41590 Fenwick Street
Leonardtown, MD 20650
(301) 475-8500
Prayers: Friday, August 21, 2026 7:00 pm
Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home
41590 Fenwick Street
Leonardtown, MD 20650
(301) 475-8500
Visitation: Saturday, August 22, 2026 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Saint Mark U.A.M.E. Church
45685 Happyland Road
Valley Lee, MD 20692
Funeral Service: Saturday, August 22, 2026 10:00 am
Saint Mark U.A.M.E. Church
45685 Happyland Road
Valley Lee, MD 20692
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Phyllis ~ We are sorry to hear of your mom’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Phyllis we were just talking about your mom a Friday ago at Dollar general in Callaway. I am so sorry about your mother’s passing. You have my deepest sympathy at this time. It will be a wonderful time to live on this earth free of sickness and death. Rev.21:3,4
Dear Smith family,
Our deepest condolences to you as you deal with the deep, heartfelt loss of your precious Mother. She was very kind and generous to our family, especially during the time when Mama (Elsie) was sick. Every week, she would ask Mama what she would like to eat; she then prepared it and delivered enough food for at least 2 days. The only thing we had to do was get it out of her car.
Our prayers are with you.
Nathaniel Lawrence, Nate Lawrence, Catherine Mason, William Mason, Shawna Mason
To the Smith Family:
Our thoughts, prayers & condolences go out to you all at this time.. Ms. Rossetta was the most sweetest, kindest woman I’ve known.. She treated my children like her own grandchildren..
I know Clarence met her at the pearly gates when she got there.. Fly high Ms. Rossetta.. God sure gained a beautiful Angel!! We will miss You!!
Shirley & children
Your Family has my deepest sympathy for the loss of your loved one you will continually be in my prayers and thoughts love you all.
Sending my thoughts and prayers to all of you at this time. Your Mom was always so kind and caring.
I know she will be missed by all.
Robin Allwine Duke
Otto NC
How can we say thanks for all the things that you have done for us!
We love you and will miss you telling us what to do.!
Grandma Rose,
I don’t even know where to begin, because when I think about everything you did for me, my heart gets full. But I want to take this moment to say thank you — truly, deeply, from the bottom of my soul.
Thank you for going to Piney Point Elementary School and raising a fuss just so I could start kindergarten early. You believed in me before I even knew what believing in myself meant.
Thank you for taking me to Radio Shack for computer lessons on the Commodore 64 — and not just dropping me off, but sitting right there beside me, learning with me, encouraging me, showing me that my interests mattered to you.
Thank you for letting me work in the office at the shop because you knew I didn’t want to be out in the garage with Pop Pop. You never forced me into something I didn’t want. You protected my dreams before I even had the words to describe them.
Thank you for teaching me how to count change back to customers without relying on the cash register. You taught me responsibility, confidence, and pride in doing things the right way.
Thank you for showing me early on that if you want something in life — and you work hard enough — you can achieve it. That lesson shaped everything I am today.
Thank you for paying me on Fridays with the rest of the guys. That little white envelope meant more than money. It meant I earned something. It meant I belonged.
Thank you for teaching me to learn everything I could — but never to teach everything I knew — because someone might try to replace me. You taught me how to protect my value.
Thank you for always welcoming my friends, letting us play pool, and baking your famous chocolate chip cookies. You made our house feel warm, safe, and full of joy.
And most of all, thank you for loving me unconditionally. For seeing me. For guiding me. For shaping me into the person I am.
I love you. And I will always, always cherish the moments we shared — the big ones, the small ones, and all the ones in between.
August 7, 2026
Your love and guidance will be missed!
I thank God for our friendship