Barbara Emerson Smith

Mrs. Smith, age 83, of Bolivar, passed away Thursday morning, February 13, 2020 at her home.

She was born in Bolivar, the daughter of the late John Edwin Emerson, Sr. and Ruby Nola Shearin Emerson and lived her entire life here. She graduated from Bolivar Central High School in May, 1954 and on June 27, of that same year, was united in marriage to Mr. Luther E. Smith, with whom she shared her birth date.

Mrs. Smith worked over 20 years in accounting at Bolivar Energy Authority and previously had worked as dental assistant to Dr. Richard Berryman. She was a member of the Bolivar First Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School and, in her leisure time, Mrs. Barbara enjoyed shopping and traveling. She and Mr. Smith had toured the U.S.A. from coast-to-coast including Canada and Mexico. She dearly loved her pet cats, "Boots" and "Sadie".

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Smith is survived by two daughters, Cindy Hazelwood (Richard) of Bolivar and Caroline Vandiver (Donald) of Jackson; two sons, Gary Smith (Carol) of Bolivar and Tim Smith (Riga) of Jonesborough, TN; ten grandchildren, Erin Piefer (Bryan) of Bolivar, Bo Hazelwood (Melissa) of Cloverport, Tyler Hazelwood (Brittany) of Blytheville, AR, Nathaniel Smith (Ryan) of Jonesborough, Julie Smith of Longview, TX, Chad Vandiver (Mandy) of Bolivar, Brigitte Taylor (Daniel) of Seattle, WA, Jessie Smith of Denver, CO, Hunter Smith of Toone and Sydney Smith of Memphis; twelve great-grandchildren, Maddy & Emmy Piefer, Macy Caroline, Bella, Kylee and Charlotte Taylor, Witten Vandiver, Maggie, Will and Luke Hazelwood, Elise and Hunter Todd Smith; her sister-in-law, Maxine Christy of Summerfield, FL; and her special caregivers, Shasta and Candis Cross, and Doris Hobson.

Those who have preceded Mrs. Smith in death are her son, Luther Todd Smith; her brother, John Edwin Emerson, Jr; her parents; and maternal grandmother, Tennie Shearin.

Memorials may be sent to The Alzheimer's Association (http://www.alz.org) or Bolivar First Baptist Church Children's Camp (http://www.fbcbolivartn.org).