Merldean Smith

Merldean Stubbs  Smith (Teenie) was born July 16, 1951, in Fairfield Township.  Teenie was born to the late Roosevelt Stubbs and Ada Mae Blackshear Stubbs.  Teenie departed this life on August 11, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.

Teenie was a lifelong resident of Bridgeton, NJ and attended the Bridgeton Public Schools.  Teenie raised her 3 beautiful children (Norman, Christine and her baby boy Horace) as a single mother.  She made sure her kids were always her priority.  Teenie then married the late Henry Smith on July 27, 1991 where they shared over 30 wonderful years together.

Teenie worked at F&S for over 30 years.  She was such a good and dedicated worker that she recruited young strong workers (her grandchildren) to come work with her at F&S.  She was often seen dragging in her grandkids making sure they didn’t embarrass her.  Even until this day, they still tell stories of how they would be crying from the onions burning their eyes.  Anyone who knew Teenie knew she loved to dance and she was the life of the party.

Anytime anyone new met Teenie they would say “Oh my god that’s y’all grand mom”. Teenie was like no other. You could always catch Teenie in the kitchen cooking for every event, especially the holidays and birthdays for her kids and grandkids, and you know everybody couldn’t wait to get her stuffing and mac and cheese. (I hope somebody got the recipe).  No matter rather you knew her as Merldean, Ms. Teenie, Girl Teenie, Ms. Tina, Grandmom, Mom, or that funny lady next door; all of us to her were affectionately called “grand mom”.

Teenie leaves to cherish her memories her last 2 living siblings Eddie Lee Stubbs and Jeanette Watford (Eugene), her sons Norman Stubbs, Sr. Tonya) and Horace Stubbs.  Her only daughter Christine Stubbs.  Her grandchildren, Sheree Logan, James Young (Marla), Raheem Stubbs (Keke), Rakeem Stubbs, Sr. (Tonette), Norman Stubbs, Jr. (who was like her own), Sharona Stubbs, Natisha Redding, Briyyaan Burden, Lashawn Thomas (Shawn),

Norman Redding, Curtis Brown, Rakeem Brown, Michael Sistrunk, Kri’Ni Stubbs, Forty (40) Great grandchildren, her companion Larry Rogers, a

honorary brother  Richard Neal and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends who became family.

Teenie was predeceased by her husband Henry Smith, brothers Zebedee, Roosevelt, Robert Lee, Rayford, Alvin, Bobby Lee, Claude, Timmie,

Tommie, Henry Stubbs; Gary Holley, Raymond Goosby, sister Bertina Seals, grandson Quamere Redding, and great grandson Ky’Shawn Redding.