Funeral arrangements for Mrs. Bertha Mae Smith Steele, age 97, will be held Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at 1PM in the chapel of Shelton Funeral Home, with burial to follow in Oakland Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in the chapel of Shelton Funeral Home, from 10AM until service time.
Mrs. Steele, a faithful member of the Trenton Church of Christ peacefully passed to her heavenly home on Saturday, April 19, 2025.
Mrs. Steele was preceded in death by her beloved husband Wayne Steele and parents Jesse T. and Ollie Pirtle Smith of Gibson, TN.
Bertha enjoyed a happy full life with her family and friends. Involved in the community she was a Sunday School teacher for many years and instrumental in starting the Hamilton Street Church of Christ congregation as a teacher for the children’s classes.
She served as a Girl Scout Leader, a den mother for the Boy Scouts, PTA president and officer of the Civic Club. In 1946 she was named Queen Bertha IX of the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival.
As Trenton merchants, she and her husband Wayne owned Steele’s Department Store from 1960-1985.
She leaves to cherish her memory her three children, Michael Steele and wife Crystal, Jerry Steele and late wife Debbie, and Debbie Steele Finch and husband Jack. Her sister Patricia Williamson and husband Lloyd, her grandchildren, David Steele, Julie Steele, Dustin Steele, Heather Steele Whitehead, Lisa Finch Piercey, and Jennifer Finch McEwen. Her great grandchildren, Lorne Steele, Flynn Steele, Taylor Steele, Nathan Steele, Colt Steele, Dominic Whitehead, Scarlett Whitehead, Claire Piercey, Lauren Piercey, Ella Piercey, Luke Piercey, Connor McEwen and Emma McEwen, and longtime best friend, Jane Overall.
