“Her children arise up, and call her blessed” … Proverbs 31: 27a
Helen Pierce “Granny” Smith, 94, Elizabethton, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, March 11, 2015, at her residence surrounded by her family.
A native of Carter County, she was the daughter of the late Bob and Lula Pierce Smith and Sanford Ritchie. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William H. “Ham” Smith, who died in 1990; three sisters, Ruby Long, Bonnie Mae Ritchie and Lottie Taylor; and two brothers, Conley Smith and Willie Ritchie.
Mrs. Smith was a member of Willow Springs Baptist Church. She was retired from Carter County Memorial Hospital. She loved spending time with her family and church family when possible. She also loved to garden and loved to read. Everyone “called Granny.”
Survivors include four daughters, Kay Brown and husband Chester, Peggy Buckles and husband Leonard, Brenda Hambrick, and Jinnie Buckles and husband Jerry; a son, Bobby Smith and wife Sharon; 13 grandchildren, Tammy Keller and husband Doug, Johnny Birchfield and wife Crystal, Stephanie Stout, Tracy Grindstaff and husband “Taz,” Tammy Ward, Lori Cadel and husband Bart, Tammy Buckles, Rebecca Doss and husband Bill, Crystal Bright and husband Matt, Hannah Hazelwood and husband Michael, Josh Smith, Emily Ayers and husband Cody and Ben Smith; 11 great-great-grandchildren, Logan, Ashley, James, Katie, Lexi, Ethan, Gabriel, Sophia, Titus, Lahkia and Micha; five step-grandchildren; several step-great-grandchildren and step-great-great-grandchildren; one brother-in-law; several nieces, nephews and cousins; and her special extended family, Danny, Beth and Holly Hilbert.
The funeral service for Mrs. Smith will be conducted at 7 p.m. Friday, March 13, at Memorial Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Ronnie Campbell and the Rev. Albert Bentley officiating. Interment will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 14, in the Smith Family Cemetery. Music will be by her children, Smith Sisters and Bobby Smith. Active pallbearers, who are asked to be at the funeral home at 10:15 a.m. Saturday, are five grandsons, Johnny Birchfield, Tommy Ward, Timmy Buckles, Ben Smith and Dwayne Buckles, and Danny Hilbert, Dallas Pierce and Lee Long. Honorary pallbearers will be Doug Keller, “Taz” Grindstaff, Bill Doss, Matt Bright, Bart Cadle, Cody Ayers, Michael Hazelwood, members of Willow Springs Baptist Church, cousins and nephews. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at 10:15 a.m. Saturday to go to the cemetery. The family would like to take this opportunity to extend a heartfelt appreciation to Mountain States Hospice, Greg and Becky, Amedysis Hospice, Jemima Rowland and Sarah, the Silver Angels, especially caregiver Sonia Guinn who loved and cared for our mother as her own. Condolences may be sent to the family at our website, www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Smith family.