Terry D. Smith died Wednesday, December 20, 2017, after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. While the cancer got the better of him, he is now in a better place, surrounded by loved ones who passed before – including his dad, Flake Smith, former Circuit Court Clerk of McNairy County.
Terry was born in Bethel Springs on November 20, 1942. After graduating from Bethel Springs High School in 1960, he was the first in his family to go to college, and he earned his Ph.D. in pharmacy from the University of Michigan in 1968. The research teams he led at companies around the country developed many of the techniques still in use today to diagnose cancer and other chronic diseases. While his career took him around the country and even to Europe a couple of times, Bethel Springs was always home, and he returned after his retirement in 2002.
Terry leaves a daughter, Nancy (Smith) Brooks, her husband, Tayt Brooks, and their two daughters, Anna and Amelia. His example of integrity, generosity and good cheer will carry forward with his daughter and granddaughters, and through all of his friends here in McNairy County.
Although Terry was an only child, his cousin, Shelby (Nix) Reeves, of Olive Branch, MS, was like a sister to him. Shelby, her late husband Henry, and their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were very near and dear.
Terry was a longtime member and elder of the Bethel Springs Presbyterian Church, where his funeral was celebrated, and donations may be made to the church in his memory: PO Box 116, Bethel Springs, TN 38315.
