Elsie Smith

Elsie Smith passed away Monday morning, August 29, 2022, in Bristol, TN. She was the second of five children born to James Albert and Anna Ruth Davis Pendergrass. Elsie retired from Gordon Garment in 1996. She worked with her sisters there as well as her loving friend, Geneva Wright. Elsie's love of life was her family. She loved her time and memories of her sisters and brother playing at their grandparents farms or at home together. She lived to love and please her family in any way she could. Her hands were never idle and her heart was always full of love, but occasionally broken. She had a firm hand but mostly for her "mamaw slaps", a loving, rapid tap on her babies cheeks. She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Ruth Pendergrass, her children, Sharon Edson, Michael "Mike" Smith, Gary Edson, her husband, Ralph Smith, her brother, "Bud" Albert Pendergrass, and her baby sister, Dorthy "Dot" Arnold. She leaves behind to cherish her memory, two sisters, Stella Clifton, (Maynard Clifton) and Shirley Cross (Bruce Cross). A daughter, Karen Browder. Her grandchildren, Jennifer Hickman, Amy Edson, Candace Edson (Castro Rivas), and Lindsay Edson. Also her cherished great-grandchildren, Dallas Martin (Lee Martin), Brianna Edson, Lars Parnell, Trisha Morris, Nathan Hayes, Alyssa Edson, Eli Edson, Brayden Rivas, Gabriel Rivas, Lucas Rivas, and her great-great grandchildren, GraceLynn Martin, Willow Martin, Maddox Hayes, Hannah Hayes, Jonathen Widener, and Morgan Widener. She also leaves behind a host of nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews that loved her. A memorial service will be held Sunday, September 11, 2022, at 3:30PM, in the mausoleum at Mountain View Cemetery, 1019 Valley Drive, Bristol, Virginia. This obituary is lovingly written by the Smith family. Trinity Memorial Centers Funeral Home (423-723-8177) is honored to serve the Smith family.