Mr. Thomas Crockett Smotherman, Sr., 88 years young, of Shelbyville, passed away Sunday, February 7, 2021, at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
He was born on Marshal Knob in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on February 12, 1932, to the late Richard Crockett Smotherman and Sally Bowling Smotherman. He lived most of his life in Bedford County, Tennessee, and was the baby of the family.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Christine Majors Smotherman, who died in 2000; siblings and in laws and outlaws, Horace Edwin (Ida Kathleen) Smotherman, Richard Henry "Dick" (Mary) Smotherman, Nannie Ruth (Robert) Brown, Etta Mae (Jessie) Holden, Margaret Estill Smotherman, Eva Lilian Smotherman Lloyd, and Elizabeth Ann (Phillip) Smith, and a grandson, Edward Dustin Mendez.
Survivors include his children, Debra (Kenneth) Parker, of Readyville, Tennessee, Martha (Albert Edward) Mendez, of Christiana, Tennessee, Thomas Crockett Smotherman, of Bell Buckle, and Claudette (John) Langston, of Tomball, Texas; special friend, Patricia Bearden, of Shelbyville, Tennessee, and the mother of his three oldest children, Bennie Jo Smotherman, of Parsons, Tennessee; eleven grandchildren, Rodney Brandon, Jennifer (Brad) Fletcher, Kim (Lonnie) Wheeler, Ashley Mendez, Mitzie Mendez, Kesha (Reginald) Smotherman-Collier, Varina Hinojosa, April (Rico) Coleman, Joshua (Kat) Goins, Jessica (Reggie) Carrington, and Olivia (Trey Shuck) Langston; nineteen great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild; many nieces and nephews.
Mr. Smotherman was a self-made man and jack of all trades. He was a mechanic and owned Smotherman's Garage and Smotherman's Package Store, in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. He loved fast cars, and enjoyed drag strip racing, and owned quite a few race cars. He was a farmer in his later years and raised beef cattle.
He was loved and will be missed by many.
A family graveside service will be held at a later date at Hazel Cemetery in Bell Buckle, Tennessee.
In lieu of flowers, please celebrate his life by reaching out to someone with an act of kindness in his memory.
Feldhaus Memorial Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements.
