Ashleigh Laniece Smith Humphreys

Ashleigh Laniece Smith Humphreys, 35, died Monday, September 12, 2005, in Helena, Ala. Ashleigh was born in Tuscaloosa, Ala., to Brooks and Dianne Switzer Smith. Shortly after her birth, the family moved home to Gulfport, Miss., where Dr. Smith began teaching at the University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Park campus. Ashleigh attended Gulfport High School where she participated in the Gulfport High Band as a first chair oboe player and a majorette. In her final year, Ashleigh led the band as its first female drum major. Following graduation, Ashleigh attended Gulf Coast Community College at the Jeff Davis campus in Gulfport. While there, Ashleigh was elected homecoming queen for the Jeff Davis Campus as well as the overall homecoming queen for all the Gulf Coast Community College campuses. Ashleigh then attended the University of Southern Mississippi where she earned her undergraduate degree in Accounting. At USM, Ashleigh met Richard Humphreys of Pass Christian, Miss. The couple married after graduation. After their marriage, the Humphreys lived in Gainesville, Fla., for seven years. While in Gainesville, Ashleigh taught second grade at a Christian school and the couple attended Westside Baptist Church where they taught Sunday school classes and led youth groups. The Humphreys then moved to Helena, Ala. On September 3, 2001, Ashleigh became the proud mother of Richard Joshua Humphreys. In 1990, Ashleigh made her debut to Coast society with the Gulf Coast Debutante Society. Also, in 1991, Ashleigh served as a court maid to Queen Ixolib in the Gulf Coast Carnival Association. While living on the Coast, Ashleigh was also an active member of Handsboro Baptist Church in Gulfport, Miss. Ashleigh was also a successful entrepreneur and business owner with companies such as Key Creations, Inc. which sold Christian books and gifts. More recently, Ashleigh had begun LeLaneice Designs, Inc. which catered and designed social events. Ashleigh was preceded in death by her father, Dr. Brooks Eugene Smith, and by her paternal grandparents, Everett and Irene Burke Smith, and by her maternal grandfather, C.T. Switzer, Sr. Survivors include her husband, Richard Humphreys, and son, Joshua Humphreys of Helena, Ala.; her mother, Dianne Switzer Smith of Gulfport, Miss.; her sister and brother-in-law, Ted Butler and Victoria Smith Butler of Hattiesburg, Miss.; and her grandmother, Eula Webb Switzer of Biloxi, Miss. Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, September 18, 2005, at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Pass Road, Biloxi. Funeral service will follow at 3 p.m. in the chapel. Burial will be at Floral Hills Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest next to her father, Dr. Brooks Smith, and her grandfather, C.T. Switzer, Sr.