Pre-Jimmy
Smith's family lived in poverty, although she later claimed that she and her siblings were unaware, since even though their family "didn't have money," neither did "anyone else, so as far as we knew, we were well off."
[5] Churches and schools were at the center of her family's community, and the people of Plains were familiar with each other.
[6] Smith played with the boys during her early childhood since no girls on her street were her age. She drew buildings and was interested in airplanes, which led her to believe that she would someday become an architect.
[7]
Rosalynn's father died of
leukemia when she was 13 in 1940. She called the loss of her father the conclusion of her childhood.
[8] Thereafter, she helped her mother raise her younger siblings, as well as assisting in the dressmaking business in order to meet the family's financial obligations.
[9]Rosalynn would credit her mother with inspiring her own independence and said that she learned from her mother that "you can do what you have to do".
[10] At Plains High School, Rosalynn worked hard to achieve her father's dream of seeing her go to college.
[9] Rosalynn graduated as
salutatorian of Plains High School. Soon after, she attended
Georgia Southwestern College and graduated in 1946