Mother of Chicago Bears’ Head Coach Lovie Smith dies
Lovie Smith’s mother Mae Smith breathed her last on Tuesday night at a local Texas hospital aged 77. The shocking news was received by Head Coach Lovie Smith during an NFC Championship game between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers – forcing him to abandon proceedings and rush to the hospital.
Mae Evelyn Chalk Smith, has been the victim of diabetes for years now. Her husband, Dearion Smith, passed away in 1996 due to natural causes. She was born in Big Sandy, a small town in East Texas, but lived most of her life in Tyler. In an interview with a local newspaper back in 2007, Mae Evelyn said that she was a big fan of the Dallas Cowboys until her son had become the Head Coach of the Bears.
Some years back, she had lost her vision because of her ailment. His mother’s vulnerable condition greatly affected Lovie, and he soon became an activist of the American Diabetes Association. He donates ten tickets of every Bears’ game to children who are diabetics, aside from participating in various American Diabetes Association events. He and his wife, MaryAnne, also started the Lovie and MaryAnne Smith Foundation to raise college tuitions for destitute children in areas that are rampant in poverty.
Lovie started his coaching career as a Defensive Coordinator for the Big Sandy High School Football Team, where he had been an all-state linebacker and defensive end. He led the team to three successive state championships and had one of the most dominant seasons in school history, allowing a total of only 15 points in the entire season. In 11 games, the opposing team did not score a single point. The offense also did a great job, scoring a then nationwide record of 824 points.
He had been Linebackers Coach for four universities from 1983 to 1994 before coming to the National Football League in 1996. During the same year, he held the same position, but this time for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He moved to St. Louis Rams in 2001 as a Defensive Coordinator from 2001 to 2003. He later on became Head Coach of the Bears in 2004, winning The Associated Press’ Coach of the Year award in 2005.
Mae Evelyn’s funeral will be held on Saturday in Hawkins, Texas at Jarvis Christian College. The entire Bears team is expected to attend the ceremony.
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