Audrey White Smith, was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, April 3, 1947, to the late Marilyn Banks and Curtis White. The Lord called her to rest April 3, 2021, precisely 74 years to the date until His return. Audrey lived most of her life in Chattanooga. She attended Howard High School. She worked as a substitute teacher for the Hamilton County School System for several years; ;however, she retired from Chattanooga Plastics after twenty plus years of dedicated service.
While living in Chattanooga she was a faithful member of Shepherd’s Voice Church and was on the Mother’s Board.
Audrey, and her husband, Alonzo, moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to be close to their children in 2006. While there, she joined Hillcrest SDA Church where she continued to be faithful in her role as a deaconess and ready and willing to work for the Lord.
Mom was a beautiful spirit. We most loved how direct she was, which meant we never had to guess what she was thinking or saying because she told us directly. She was more than a mother, she was a friend that we could talk to about any and all things. Mom was an avid reader. She read everything from romantic novels to biographies. When she didn’t have a book in her hands, she was playing some kind of card game or shopping. Mom was a lover of life but most of all she loved the Lord, her family and friends. She will forever be missed. but never forgotten and always loved!
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Alonzo Brown; two sons, Luther Smith, Jr. and Kevin L. Smith; stepdaughter, Stephanie Mayes; brother, Larry Bennings.
Those to forever cherish her loving memory include her children, Vincent Florence (Nita) of Clarksville, TN, Sonia Bennett of Nashville, TN, Kenneth Smith of Chattanooga, TN, stepdaughter, Camelia Davis of Chattanooga, TN; 11 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren; siblings, Irvin Banks (Norma) of Cleveland, OH, Brenda Crowder, of Chattanooga, TN, Loretta Beasley (Matt) of Acworth, GA, Sylvia Benning of Nashville, TN, Gregory Benning (Maria) of Cypress, TX; special niece, Nanette Crowder of Chattanooga, TN; dear friends Ms., Betty Wheeler of Huntsville, AL and Ms. Beverly Smith of Jackson, TN; a host of other relatives and friends.
Public viewing will be held 9:00 am – 11:30 am Saturday, April 10, 2021, at the funeral home, followed by a 12:00 pm funeral service. Interment: Highland Memorial Gardens.
The service will be broadcast at 12 noon EST, Saturday, April 10, 2021 at https://www.facebook.com/jpfchattanooga.
Arrangements by John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Avenue, 423-622-9995.