One glorious day on August 7, 1949 Irene Elizabeth Smith - Little was born to Bettie L. James and David C. Smith Sr. She was the oldest of two siblings. She was raised in the household with her mom and stepfather William L. James "Mater". She often reminisced about the good times she had growing up with her mother, stepdad, and brother. Irene received her education at Edmondson Westside High School. She loved to learn and often bragged about how she excelled in academics and was in the school's newspaper. She graduated class of 1967. She later attended Morgan State University for two years. After combating her illness for several years, she was finally called home.

In 1970 Irene worked as a teacher's aide at School #156. After two years of being an aide, she became employed at the Social Security Administration. She started as a clerk, then advanced into management and finally she became a disability examiner. At one time she was also a union representative. She loved her work at the Social Security Administration and would tell stories of how when she started it was a work party atmosphere. She acquired many friends who later became family at the Social Security Administration. She also loved her work friends. They would often go out after work and cut a rug. She retired from Social Security Administration in 2009.

In 1986 Irene married Roosevelt "Cody" Smith and from this union they had a daughter Chenaya Smith whom she loved and adored. She later met and married Tyrone Little in 2010. Irene loved her husband and would say my husband this, my husband that. They enjoyed doing various things like traveling, going to parties, dancing, and socializing with family and friends. But above anybody and anything they loved the casino's. That was their thing. They would visit every casino they could and spend hours there. They loved listening to music at home and talking about the good ole days. They were it! (Tyrone & Irene)

Because her middle name was, "Elizabeth" she thought she was the Queen. Irene was an avid reader and enjoyed her frequent trips to the library, checking out multiple books at a time. Irene was a true wordsmith. She loved shopping and would jump at any chance to do something retail therapy. She loved flowers and tending to her garden. Birthday's and Christmas were important to her and she loved decorating for most holidays. She would even keep her Christmas tree up and decorate it in different holiday decor. She would spend time discussing a good novel with her niece Devera who she loved and treated as a daughter. Irene loved her daughter and they shared a close bond. They would talk multiple times a day sometimes for hours at a time. They enjoyed laughing and telling jokes with each other, shopping, gambling, and traveling, but most of all spending time together frequently, but the apple of her eyes was her granddaughter Jamek. She loved and doted on her since the day she was born. They loved laying in bed cuddling and talking. They loved baking cookies and pies together for the holidays. Specifically Thanksgiving and Christmas. Irene enjoyed traveling with her grandchildren as they would do every summer. They also enjoyed playing board games together, quiet as it has kept, they were each other's favorite person. Irene also enjoyed her great niece Taylor who would visit her and say, "Can I do your makeup Auntie" and Irene would let her.

Irene's family and friends adored her and loved her selfless acts of kindness. At the time of her passing Irene was the matriarch of her family. Family was everything to her, and she also extended that same grace to friends as well. Irene was a loving daughter, sister, mother, wife, aunt, and grandmother. Irene leaves to cherish her memories her devoted husband Tyrone D. Little, daughter Chenaya Smith, her princess granddaughter Jamek Ward, devoted son in law Ronald Brooks, step daughter Sharron Williams, two nieces Devera Smith and Linnette Smith, grandsons Henry Davis and Armani Little, granddaughter Cilee Whitener, sister in laws Theresa Little and Virginia Little, brother in laws Orlander Little and Calvin Benson, Special nieces Ba'Lauren Hall and Crystal Randolph, three special cousins Raymond Hicks, Robin Chase and Tony Baylor, and a host of family and friends. Irene was preceded in death by her late mother Bettie James, brother David Smith Jr. (Juice), her god daughter Lori Sapp and her favorite Aunt Mamie Baylor.

Irene's family would also like to extend a special thank you to special friends and family who showed up and supported her during her final months of life Mary Randall, Pearline Rencher, Carolyn Stennett, Anthony Waymon, Celestine and Ronald Brooks, Shirley Wright and Denise Little. Special neighbors Leonard Mackey Sr. and Linda Bethea.