Thelma Lewis Smith, 91, departed this life peacefully on August 27, 2020.
She entered this life June 13, 1929. She was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to the union of Harvey and Mattie Lee (Johnson) Lewis both deceased.
Thelma was a graduate of Howard High School, the class of 1947. She was employed during her lifetime with the former North Carolina Mutual Insurance Company and retired from Tri-County Hospital. Upon her retirement she served as a foster grandparent with Chattanooga Human Services. She was a lifelong member of New Monumental Baptist Church where she served in the choir and the Missionary Ministry until her health began to fail.
Thelma was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Leonard Edward Smith, Sr. and her eldest daughter, Cynthia Jean Smith; brothers, Harvey Lewis, Jr., Raymond Edward Lewis, and Nathaniel Lewis; and sister, Dwartha Lewis Grayson.
She was a devoted mother of six children. She is survived by sons, Leonard Edward (Carline) Smith, Jr.; and Ronald Eric (Priscilla) Smith, Sr.; daughters, Josclyn Shabazz; Pamela Faye (Norman) Robbins; and Cathy Lynn (Clarence) Keyes; siblings, Lillie Broadnax, Annie Ruth Jeffery, and Barbara Ann Ross-Higgins; sisters-in-law, Lillian Keith Lewis of Atlanta, Diana Lewis of Chicago, IL, Wenda Faye Williams, Mary Alice Collier of Atlanta; brother-in-law, Maurice Smith of Los Angeles; cousins, Bradley and Josephine Jennings of Atlanta, GA; 14 grandchildren: Ronda, Vanessa, Racquel, Adrian, Renita, Bilal, Clifford, Shuntel, Erika, Stacy, Ronald, Jr., Atiba, Ervin, and Malcom; 15 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, great and grand nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
Public viewing will be held from 2–6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 3, at the funeral home.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 4, at New Monumental Baptist Church. Interment: Forest Hills Cemetery.
Arrangements are by John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Ave., 423 622-9995.