Ruth B. Smith

Ida Ruth Brown Smith went to be with Jesus on December 5, 2025, at the age of 99 years young. Ruth was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, to A.G. and Carrie Mae Brown on February 28, 1926, the third of six children.

Ruth grew up in and around Charlotte – where she milked the family cow, excelled at playing the piano, was a high school cheerleader, and met her husband at a square dance during World War II. She and Richard Smith eloped to Lake Charles, Louisiana, in 1945 where Richard was stationed. They lived in Sacramento while the war ended and then settled in Richard’s hometown of Nashville to start a family. They were married for almost 60 years and had five children – a son, Jimmy Joe, and then four daughters, Sherri, Gayle, Cindy, and Donna. She loved her family. Ruth loved Jesus and never met a stranger - whom she would often talk to about her faith. She was a dedicated Christian wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

She is preceded in death by her parents, all of her siblings, her husband Richard, her young teenage son Jimmy Joseph, her daughter Donna Carnahan, her infant granddaughter Laura Janes, and her son-in-law Gene Lawson. She is survived by her daughters, Sherri (Buford) Hoskins, Gayle Lawson, and Cindy (Drew) Charlton; her granddaughters, Katie (Gabe) Watson and Mary Kathryn Charlton; great-grandchildren, Ford Watson, Brady Watson, and Emma Ruth Watson (the fourth generation of "Ruth"); and a host of extended family and friends.

Visitation will be Monday, December 15, 2025, from noon until 2 PM at the Church of Christ in Green Hills, 3805 Granny White Pike, Nashville, TN 37204, with the celebration of life immediately following at 2 PM. The family will have a private burial.