Bessie Lee SMITH

McMinnville resident and Rutherford County, TN native Bessie Lee Smith, age 83, was born May 18, 1928 and died March 10, 2012 at NHC Healthcare McMinnville following an extended illness. A homemaker and member of the New Beginnings Baptist Church, she was the daughter of the late John Butler and Fannie Lee Griffith Smith. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sons, Johnny Smith and Roy Thomas Smith, Jr. She is survived by five children and their spouses, Linda and Thomas Craig of Murfreesboro, TN, Billy Ray Smith of Nashville, TN, Betty Ann and Elbert Willis of McMinnville and Andrew and Jennifer Smith and John G. Smith both of Smithville, TN; thirteen grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren; brother, John Snider of North Carolina; sister, Vera Smith of Iowa and several nieces and nephews. Funeral service was held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, 2012 in High's Chapel with Tony Roberts and Elbert Willis officiating. Burial followed in the Jefferson Cemetery in DeKalb County, TN.