June M. Smith

June M. Smith, 89, formerly of Henderson, taught her final lesson at Canterbury Place Assisted Living in Dyersburg, TN on May 9th, 2023.

Born December 26, 1933 in Chester County, she was the daughter of the late Oscar F. and Callie Cherry Mount.  She was a beloved mother, grandmother, and friend to all who knew her.

A 1952 Chester County High School graduate, she began teaching in 1955 with a two-year certificate in the Pine Springs one-room schoolhouse the same school where she began her education as a five year old.  After the birth of her children, while teaching full time, she returned to Bethel College on Saturdays, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in 1968.

“Miss” June enjoyed a forty-two-year teaching career in the halls of Chester County Schools and boasted she had taught multiple generations of the same family.  She was a student and co-worker of some of the same teachers who taught her children.  She taught a second grader who later became a co-worker and ultimately her school’s principal.

Highlights of her retirement were reminiscing with students and their parents about what she referred to as “teachable moments”, following her former student’s successes, being inducted into the Chester County High School Hall of Fame in 2019 and actively participating as a member of the Chester County Retired Teachers' Association.

She was a Baptist.

She is survived by a son Dr. Bobby A. Smith and wife, Dr. Susan B. Smith of Sandy Springs, GA, a daughter Anita Smith Hart and husband Page of Dyersburg, TN, a sister Betty Jo Record of Dickinson, TX and a cousin who was like a brother James (Skippy) Mount and wife Marva of Mansfield, TX.  In addition, she is survived by grandchildren Thomas (Marlena), Christina (Andrew) and Teresa along with one great granddaughter Laura Marie Smith (Thomas and Marlena).

The family acknowledges Paula Arterbridge, Cindy Flagg, Valeria Morris, Windy Reed, Barbara Walker and the Canterbury team for the love, kindness and care bestowed on “June Bug” over the past years.

June was predeceased by her parents and four siblings infant Molly Terry Mount, Cherry Melton, Horace Mount and Kirk Mount.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 PM, May 11th, 2023 at Shackelford Funeral Directors, 304 Crook Avenue with her former students Dr. Ricky Burse and Terry Carroll officiating.  Burial will follow at Chester County Memory Gardens.

The family will receive friends at the Shackelford’s Crook Avenue Chapel beginning at 10:00 am until service time at 2:00 pm.

Memorial gifts may be directed to the June Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Chester County Alumni Association, P. O. Box 163, Henderson, TN  38340; National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 950 East Pace Ferry Road NE, Suite 820 Atlanta, GA  30326; New Pathways for Children, P. O. Box 10, Melber, KY  42069.