Cassie Mangum Smith, 65, died Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024 following an extended and courageous battle with numerous health challenges.

Cassandra Louise Mangum (Cassie) was born in Lake Charles, La. on Feb. 10, 1959, the daughter of Harold Mitchell and Gene Everett Mangum. Cassie spent her childhood and early adult years living in Lake Charles, La., graduating from LaGrange Senior High School in 1977. While at LaGrange, Cassie was a Gatorette and the Gatorette Drum Captain her senior year. In the two years following her graduation from high school, Cassie attended Northwestern State University and majored in Music. After attending Northwestern State University, Cassie began a long and multi-faceted career in the private sector in the areas of insurance, health care, banking, employee relations and human resources, church administration, and funeral administration and operation. During her career, Cassie resided in Houston, Texas, Lake Charles, La., Fields, La., and Slidell, La.

Cassie enjoyed music and singing, as well as spending time with her husband, David, and her family. She was an avid collector of Radko Christmas ornaments and made an annual trip with her friends to various locations to purchase first edition Radko ornaments. Cassie cherished these trips and her friends.

Cassie also absolutely adored her life with David and loved being his wife and loved their life together in Fields and then, of course, in Slidell. Hosting holidays at her house was always full of laughter, fun and the best comfort foods! Some that her nephews always requested were her ham sandwiches with “communion bread” and lots of butter baked in the oven, gumbo and of course she was famous for her potato salad! Watching Cassie open gifts was a true joy! She would squeal with so much enthusiasm that everyone wanted to know what was so special about that gift, and she would tell you. Usually, it had something to do with her family.

Cassie knew how to love! Cassie never met a stranger. Anybody that knew her, knew that she loved them (or that she didn’t)! Most of all, she loved the Lord with all her heart, with all her soul and with all her might! She had a great desire to learn as much as she could about Jesus and she was always taking the next Bible study or reading a book about Jesus, especially her Bible!

Cassie was preceded in death by her mother, Gene Everett Mangum and her father, Harold Mitchell Mangum. She is survived by her husband of 30 years, Olen David Smith; her daughter, Dr. Tessa Smith and her husband, Dr. Edward Donaldson, of Pearl River, La.; her son, Jered Smith and his wife, Lauren Smith, of Covington, La.; her brother, Thomas M. (Butch) Mangum and his wife, Debbie Mangum, of Houston, Texas; two grandchildren, two nephews, one great-nephew, two great-nieces and many, many close friends and family members who she loved deeply and who loved her.

Visitation will be Friday, Aug. 16, 2024 from 5:30 p.m until 7:30 p.m and Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024 from 9 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. at Johnson Funeral Home in Lake Charles, La. The service celebrating Cassie’s life will be in the chapel at Johnson Funeral Home, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024 at 11 a.m.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be made to a charity or ministry of your choice.

Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneral home.net.