“The greatest use of a life is to spend it for something that will outlast it” (William James).
Joette Smith works hard every day motivating and inspiring young people. She does everything she can at work and at home with her family to make sure that all those around her will have skills to use in the future.
She loves her job teaching, but she values her family as well. In fact, after her first few years of teaching, she took a brief time away to focus on investing in her family too.
“I graduated from college with a degree in science education, and I started teaching high school Biology and Chemistry at Clarkdale for eight years until my first child, Graham, was born,” recalled Joette. “After that first year with a baby, I decided to stay home with my children until they were all in school.”
Once each of her children—Graham, Slater, and Virginia—were in school, Joette returned to her career in teaching.
“I then decided to go back to teaching and accepted a position at Quitman High School, teaching Chemistry and Anatomy and Physiology,” stated Joette. “I taught at QHS for fifteen years until 2017 when I accepted a teaching position at Enterprise High School teaching Chemistry and Anatomy and Physiology.”
Joette loves her job and each one of her students, and she strives to give them essential skills and be a positive influence in their lives each day.
“I have enjoyed teaching at all the high schools in the county and loved all of my students at each school. The easiest part was teaching and interacting with the students,” expressed Joette. “I really do like teaching high school students, and I hope that I was able to teach them that having a basic knowledge of Chemistry is important for everyone because it is such an important part of everything we come in contact with and do. Also, it is so important to have knowledge of how the human body works because sooner or later you will have to deal with issues or illness yourself or someone in your family. I hope that they learned something, whether book knowledge or a life lesson that they can use later after they leave high school.”
Over the years, Joette has challenged her students in the classroom and encouraged and pushed them to do more than they ever dreamt they could. She has invested herself in helping each student who walks through the door of her classroom and has given numerous lessons that pertain to both the classroom and just general life skills so that her students can succeed.
Although being a teacher keeps her busy, it is not the only big job that Joette does. She has always been a hard worker, and she is able to maintain a well-loved store that her family started in Clarke County while she continues to teach.
“My father, Bob Majure, was a watchmaker, and he and my mother owned and operated Majure Jewelry and Gifts on Main Street in Quitman since moving here in 1951,” explained Joette. “I have continued to work with the jewelry store; since my brother died in 2013 and my mother began to have health issues and later died in 2019, I have helped with the operation and day-to-day business of Majure’s Jewelry. It has been a part of my life, and I have tried to keep it open and running.”
Another thing she enjoys doing is being an active member at the church she attends: First Baptist Church of Quitman. She has learned many valuable lessons over the years from participating in different activities at the church.
“I have been the pianist at First Baptist Church here in Quitman since graduating from college. I work with the adult and youth choirs,” said Joette. “I have so many memories of going on numerous youth trips with church as a youth and later as an adult chaperone. One of the youth trips that I chaperoned several years ago was a Student Life Camp where the theme was “Love God,Love People.” I think that is something we need to always remember as we go through life and meet others who may be different or think differently from you. If you love God, then you should love His people. I think if we get this right from the start the world would be a better place.”
Joette also enjoys being able to volunteer outside of church and has more plans for volunteering in the future.
“I have worked for over 30 years with the local Clarke County Junior Miss/Distinguished Young Woman Program,” stated Joette. “I hope in the future when I retire to have some time to help out at the local animal shelter.”
There is no doubt that Joette will continue to share wisdom and love with those she meets. The lessons she provides countless people will carry on into the future for years to come.
