The Rev. Jethero D. Smith, 83, a resident of Cleveland, died Wednesday evening, Oct. 30, 2002, in a Chattanooga hospital.

He was the son of the late Elizabeth Everett Smith and David Smith.  His brothers and sisters: Mamie Smith, Otto Smith, Dorthy Henton, Milburn Smith, Norris Smith, and Violet Smith proceeded him in death.

He was a retired Baptist minister with more than 50 years of service. He pastured churches in East Tennessee and North Georgia.  He was a 32^nd degree mason and a member of Cohutta Lodge No. 64 F&AM in Cohutta and a member of the Alhambra Shrine in Chattanooga.

He was a member of Mt Carmel Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Naomi Smith of Cleveland; daughter and son-in-law, Joan and Jim Land of Charleston; son and daughter-in-law, Sam and Linda Smith of Marietta, Ga; grandchildren: Nathan and Brandy Land of Charleston, Sherry and Robert Massengill of Bowden Ga., and David and Geri Smith of Londrina, Brazil; six great-grandchildren; sisters: June Smith and Geneva Brindle, both of Dalton, Ga., brother, Bruce Smith of Ringold, Va [GA] and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be conducted Friday at 2pm from Mt Carmel Baptist Church with the Revs. W. L. Shipman and Dewayne White officiating.  Interment will Follow in the Mt Carmel Baptist Church cemetery with Charles Myers, Dickie Houston, Johnny Masengil, Wilbur Masengil, Lewis Rymer and Robert Rominger serving as pallbearers.

A Masonic service will be conducted at 8 p.m. today at the North Chapel of Buckner-Rush Funeral homes.  The body will be at the church from 1 until 2 pm. Friday.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 this evening at the funeral home.

From the Cleveland Daily Banner of Bradley County, TN,  October 31, 2002

Jethero Smith was born in Hill City (Gordon County) Ga.  He and his family were long time members at Hill City Baptist Church, in Hill City (Resaca), GA