Patricia McDowell Smith was born January 17, 1943, in Pineville, Kentucky. A true child of Kentucky, she was both a coal miner’s daughter and coal miner’s granddaughter. Her grandfather John Engle was a Baptist preacher and died in a coal mine explosion. Her family had a long association with both coal and lumber. Pat’s great-grandfather, originally from Shelbyville, Tennessee, moved to Kentucky to begin a pencil manufacturing business. Her father, Samuel Houston McDowell had a long career in the lumber industry. Pat’s journey to Tennessee included periods in Indiana, Virginia, South Carolina, Kentucky again, North Carolina, and finally Tennessee. She was preceded in death by her father, Sam, and her mother Irene Engle McDowell and by her daughter Miriam Ella Smith. After graduating from Jefferson High School in Roanoke, Virginia, Pat attended Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and then the University of North Carolina in Greensboro. She and Jerry Smith were married in Fredericksburg, Virginia, on June 30, 1963, and, after just missing a tornado on their wedding day, lived in Louisville, Kentucky, and later in Durham, North Carolina, while Jerry completed graduate work. Pat’s career included Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Duke Divinity School, the Deans of Students Office, and the School of Theology at the University of the South. She worked for School of Theology Deans from Terry Holmes through Guy Lytle. Her greatest life work, however, was her contribution to her family. Successively, she was the mother of Samuel McDowell (Mac), Miriam Ella, and then her grandchildren Alicia Lynn, Amber Leigh, and Samuel Lafayette (Sam). The final joy of her life included her grandchildren Miles and June and her great-granddaughter Aubri Ella. Pat was a quiet but devoted Christian who refused to believe anything but the best of all she knew and was the high priestess of her universal sacrament of a ready, broad, and happy smile. Her favorite color was yellow. She loved roses, sunflowers, and goldfinches. She collected crosses and angels. Her favorite hymn was “Victory in Jesus,” and she believed every word of that hymn. It delighted her to be in church among her old and dear friends. Praise God for her life, her faithful Christian witness, her love of her family, and now her Victory in Jesus.
She is survived by husband Jerry, sons Mac (Sharon) and Sam (Sarah), daughters Alicia and Amber, grandchildren Miles Patrick, June Kinner, and by great-granddaughters Aubri Ella Smith and Zosia Kinner, and by first cousin Mark (Debbie) Engle.
Graveside Services will be held at 4:00pm on Sunday, August 20, 2023, at Franklin Memorial Gardens with Dr. Rev. Michael Clark officiating.
Moore-Cortner Funeral Home, 300 First Ave NW, Winchester, TN 37398, (931)-967-222
