Smith Foundation Remembers:

Mignon C. Smith

1931- 2012

   On February 10, 2012, three days after celebrating her 81st birthday, Mignon C. Smith, an avid horsewoman and philanthropist, finished her final race and joined her parents in the winner’s circle of life.
Mignon was born in Birmingham on February 7, 1931 and moved with her parents J. Craig and Page T. Smith to Sylacauga, Alabama where her father was CEO of Avondale Mills. Like her father, Mignon was a proud patriot and at age thirteen, with the help of her first filly “Invasion”, she sold more war bonds than anyone in her school.
Mignon graduated from The Madeira School in Virginia near Washington, D.C. and later received a degree from Briarcliff College at Briarcliff Manor, New York. She then attended the University of Alabama to study political science and journalism.
Mignon’s passion was horses and in 1954 she became the youngest Joint Master of Fox Hounds in the United States. Always a rebel, when she ordered her new riding jacket, she selected a “pink” coat instead of the traditional black one worn by women hunt masters. When chided for this bold diversion from traditional attire, she responded that she wanted to “brighten up the Alabama hunt scene.”
In a state where Western riding was the norm, Mignon again challenged tradition and at age twenty-one she began the first English style riding school in the Birmingham area and ran a small stud farm. Mignon established the first pony club in the area for young riders and her team went on to compete at the national level.
Mignon inspired many students and provided free training to several who could not afford the cost. Her school produced riders who later competed in the Grand Prix and rode with the Olympic Equestrian Team.
In the early 1970’s Mignon moved to Washington, D.C. with the nucleus of her thoroughbred stock, and continued to work full-time until her death managing Mede Cahaba Stable & Stud LLC, an Alabama company. Mignon has received extensive awards and recognition for her work with the thoroughbred racing groups. Her company, Mede Cahaba, was awarded top Steeplechase honors in 2007 through 2011.
In addition to her racing endeavors, upon her move to D.C., Mignon became a radio news reporter for Alabama stations. She was a Whitehouse correspondent and was present in the Whitehouse Press Room the night President Nixon resigned. After working with the Alabama Radio Network for over thirty years, Mignon retired from news reporting in 1997 and was honored as a life-time member of the Alabama Broadcasters Association and was inducted into The Communications Hall of Fame at the University of Alabama.
Mignon was an enthusiastic supporter of the Republican Party and became Alabama’s first Young Republican Committee Woman serving as Alternate Delegate at Large to the 1956 and 1960 National Republican Conventions. Mignon said her desire to promote a two-party system in Alabama in 1953 led her to take on leadership roles in Alabama with the then almost non-existent Republican Party to provide voters with a true democratic selection process. She has worked tirelessly to encourage people to vote and addressed the issue at every one of her speaking events.
Mignon was proud to be an Alabama resident and maintained her residency, residing part-time in Birmingham and returning to vote, serve on jury duty and participate in her native state’s political process.
In 2004, Wachovia Bank purchased SouthTrust and created an immediate increase in value in Mignon’s stock portfolio. Mignon decided to invest these profits into Alabama itself by supporting what she considered Alabama’s greatest resource – its young people who would become the future leaders of her great state. She established the Chair for Integrity in Business at the University of Alabama in honor of her father and published a book of his quotes entitled The Art of Integrity.
In 2004, Mignon established the largest private scholarship endowment in the history of the state. The J. Craig & Page T. Smith Scholarship Foundation to assist those students who had given back to Alabama through volunteer work and assistance to family and who will continue to contribute to the Alabama community. Mignon hoped to retain these talented students in her great state by educating them in Alabama and assisting them in finding positions and careers that would retain them in Alabama. The Foundation she created has awarded over ninety-nine full scholarships that pay for tuition, room and board up to $15,000 per year, for four years. The Foundation also provides dorm packs, seminars, professional clothing and full-time mentors to assist the scholars throughout their college years.
Mignon took an active role in the Foundation, attending awards day ceremonies and providing material for workshops and training sessions. The scholars refer to her as their guardian angel. Without her generosity and support, it was highly unlikely these scholars would ever have had the chance to obtain a college degree. The Foundation provides a “Smith Family” of support, comprised of mentors and volunteers. It is a college scholarship like no other, founded by a woman like no other.
Mignon is survived by her cousins Francis H. Crockard, Jr. (Paula), Craig Smith Crockard (Kim), and Page Smith Poerschke (Peter) all of Birmingham and William Howard Thompson (Sheryl) and Page Thompson Nelson (Paul) of New Orleans, John Randolph Smith, Jr. (Cora) of Selma, Alabama and William Craig Smith of Foley, Alabama. Mignon also leaves behind her two constant companions, Susie and Queenie, her calico barn cats, numerous loving and dear friends, including Anne “Glazie” Kehoe, Cleo Culler, June Cunniff, Alan Corbin and her devoted D.C. care team, Michael Goldstein, Joyce Jones and Darryl Bess.
Pursuant to Mignon’s specific instructions, she will have one last party at the Mountain Brook Club on Friday, February 17th from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. for close friends and relatives to celebrate her life with stories and tall tales. A memorial service will be held in Washington, D.C. on March 2, 2012 followed by a private family service to be held on the Chesapeake Bay where Mignon’s ashes will be placed in an Eternal Reef in the waters where she enjoyed so many days of sailing.
The family desires that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Sponsor A Scholar, Smith Scholarship Foundation, online or at 400 Caldwell Trace, Birmingham, Alabama 35242 or to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation at https://www.cbf.org/OrvisCommitment.

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400 Caldwell Trace

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