Dr. Penny Little Smith, born July 25, 1952, Johnson City, Tenn., went home to meet her Lord on Tuesday, March 3, 2015, after a courageous 21-year battle with cancer. Dr. Smith was a native of Carter County and was daughter of Pauline Hoilman and the late Cecil Eugene “Gene” Little.
In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Stephen M. Smith; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Hallum and Edith Smith; a niece, Marla Angotti; her maternal grandparents, Merritt and Cinda McKinney; and her paternal grandmother, Nora Little.
Dr. Smith is survived by her mother, Pauline Little Hoilman, Johnson City, Tenn.; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Sandra and P.J. Angotti, Brownsville, Tenn.; stepbrothers, Danny Hoilman and wife Luanne, Johnson City, Tenn., and Keith Hoilman, Memphis, Tenn.; her godson, Tyler Howat, West Lafayette, Ind.; aunts, Mrs. Edith Sutton, Newport News, Va., Mrs. Marlene McKinney, Mrs. Susie McKinney, Mrs. Joann McKinney and Mrs. Francis Jewett, Elizabethton, Tenn.; a special cousin and husband, Pat and Larry Burrow, Elizabethton, Tenn.; step-nephews, Paul and Scott Hoilman, Johnson City, Tenn.; and a step-niece, Nikki Hoilman, Johnson City, Tenn. Several cousins also survive.
Dr. Smith graduated from Elizabethton High School, Elizabethton, Tenn. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of TN, Knoxville, Tenn., Educational Specialist from the University of Missouri, Master of Arts from ETSU, and Doctor of Education from ETSU. She was a member of Phi Delta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi. Dr. Smith retired as an Assistant Dean, Academic Affairs, ETSU Quillen College of Medicine. She was a member of Valley Forge United Methodist Church, Elizabethton, Tenn.
The funeral service for Dr. Smith will be conducted at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 7, in the Sunrise Chapel of Tetrick Funeral & Cremation Services, Johnson City, with the Rev. Kenneth Kyker and the Rev. Joel Cook officiating. Music will be provided by Linda Little Baughman, soloist. Trilla Little will provide the organ music and Judy Little will provide the piano music. The family will receive friends prior to the funeral from 5 to 7 p.m. At other times, friends may call at the home of her mother. The entombment will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 8, at Washington County Memory Gardens, Mausoleum Chapel of Memories, Johnson City. Those who wish to attend the entombment service are asked to meet at the funeral home at 12:15 p.m. to go in procession to the cemetery. Pallbearers will be Dennis Berry, Larry Burrow, Larry Jewett, Larry McKinney, Mike McKinney, Richard Sutton, Keith Sutton and Tommy Little. Honorary pallbearers will be Tim McKinney, Tom McKinney, David McKinney, Kenneth Jewett, Patrick Little, Bruce McKinney, Brice McKinney, Gary McKinney, Mark Little, Chris McKinney, Kenneth McKinney, Mike Little, Richard Cox, Denver King, Carol Kyker, Victor and Debbie Kagen, Cecil and Ernestine Clark, Martin and Carol McCool, friends and neighbors of Dr. Smith and associates and friends at ETSU Quillen College of Medicine. The family would like to express a special thank you to Judy Deloach and the staff of Ivy Hall Nursing home for all the love and care they provided Penny. Penny will be missed by all who knew her but we know she will live in the hearts of all who came in contact with her. Memories and condolences may be shared and viewed online at www.tetrickfuneralhome.com.
Tetrick Funeral & Cremation Services, 3001 Peoples Street, Johnson City, Tenn., (423) 610-7171, is honored to serve the Smith family.