Mae Frances Aponte

Age 84, of Elmira, NY, passed away on Friday, August 14, 2026, after a fine fight, her body finally tired out and she fell asleep peacefully at home, surrounded by her loved ones. Mae Frances was born on August 5, 1942, in Dublin, Georgia, she was the daughter of the late Mildred Washington and Esco Smith Sr. Mae eventually settled in the Elmira, NY area where she worked for the A&P Plant and then worked and retired from Purolator. She graduated from Corning Community College, late in her life with a 3.5 grade point average. She spent most of her life in service to Jehovah, which she proudly served as an ordained minister and a full-time Pioneer until her hospitalization in June. Mae Frances was predeceased by her late husband, Joseph Aponte, brothers, J.B. Washington, George Washington and James Smith and sisters, Lenora Givens and Bertha Mae Wynn and her daughter, Gayle Trimble. She is survived by her 3 children, Sherry (David) Horsey, Levi Shawn (Sandra) Trimble and Tuwanna Trimble; siblings, Esco (Minnie) Smith, Ella (Felton) Wells, Annie (Bernard) Jackson and Joseph Washington; grandchildren, Maurice Williams, Shanice Williams, Michael Brown, Shauna (Walter) Parrish, Simone (Markel) Townson, Levi Shawn Trimble Jr. and Nathanael Horsey; 10 great-grandchildren and host of nieces and nephews. Family and friends are invited to attend a graveside service for Mae Frances on Friday, August 21st at 1 p.m. in Woodlawn Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to the James D. Barrett Funeral Home. There will be an upcoming future memorial of Mae's life at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witness, 708 Lena Place, Elmira, NY 14905 on Saturday, September 12th at 2 p.m. Zoom login feature will be available.