Mrs. Lillian “Ettie” Smith, 87, of Woodbury passed away on January 10, 2018 with family at her side. She was born in Gassaway, TN on October 8, 1931. She was preceded in death by her parents, Willie Jake Melton and Ethel Smithson Melton and her husband, Arley Smith.
She is survived by her sons, Roger Smith and Kevin (Tabitha) Smith both of Woodbury; three grandsons, Jonathan (Lacey) Smith, Zach (Macayla) Smith, and Reece Smith all of Woodbury; two granddaughters, Ryan Marie Smith and Paisley Lillian Smith of Woodbury; special extended family, Teresa Farless and Holly Rogers both of Woodbury.
Mrs. Lillian grew up in Gassaway which was a close knit and interesting area back in those days. She met and married Arley in 1952. They loved listening to Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton’s Christmas music all year. They enjoyed driving around at Christmas and seeing all the lights. One of their favorite stops was Burger King. It was an almost daily ritual. The workers would see their car and have the order ready before they got to the window.
She worked for the Colonial Shirt Factory for many years before she found her true love and calling for babysitting. She cared for many children in the community over the years. She was known far and wide for charging $5 a day. This included 3 meals and snacks. The children loved her special attention, loving smile, and special laugh. When her sons were growing up, she made sure to feed their friends who visited too. She and the family enjoyed going on trips to Florida and Georgia. She and Arley also went on trips with some of his Army friends. She was known by many family and friends as “Ettie”. It was a special nickname given to her by Holly when she was babysitting her. She was a long-time member of the Woodbury Church of Christ.
Visitation will be held at Smith Funeral Home on Friday, January 11, 2019 from 2-8 pm and on Saturday, January 12, 2019 from 8-1 pm. Funeral services will follow at 1 pm in the Smith Funeral Home chapel. Herb Alsup will officiate. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery. In honor of her love for children memorials are requested in lieu of flowers to either the Woodbury Day School or Short Mountain Bible Camp. Share memories and condolences with the family at www.smithfuneralhomewoodbury.net Smith Funeral Home, 303 Murfreesboro Rd. Woodbury, TN 37190, 615-563-5337
