Tishah Smith, nee Edwards was born at Wesson, Mississippi on October 28, 1899. Her mother, a housewife, died in 1901. Her father was James Edwards, a farmer born at Caseyville, Mississippi. She was married to Yancie Smith (1917~1971), and they had four children. She moved from Wesson to Gibson City, Illinois in 1917 and then to Champaign in 1922. She worked in day care and as a cook. She was a member of St. Luke
CME Church in Champaign and Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Urbana, Illinois. Her affiliations have included World War Mothers, Daughters of the Elks, and Senior Citizens.
