Rita Green Smith

Rita Green Smith, age 90 of Dayton, passed away on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at North Park Memorial in Hixson. Rita was born in Dayton on January 23, 1932, the daughter of the late Ray Green and Lillie (Thornburg) Green. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Dexter Smith, and her brother, Randall Dale Green.

Rita was a lifetime resident of Dayton, where she enjoyed spending time with her family and serving her Lord. She worked for many years at Winsett’s Music Co., and later at Kayser-Roth and TVA. Rita loved gospel music and participated in choirs at Dayton Foursquare Gospel Church, Mountain View Methodist Church, and First Baptist Church of Dayton. She also was a Sunday School teacher and youth director.

She is survived by her two daughters, Sharon (Roy) Rice and Marilyn Powell both of Dayton; her four grandchildren, Chris (Alyson) Rice of Dayton, Kevin (Melissa) Powell of Harriman, Amber Powell of Dayton, and Eric (Debbie) Rice of Rossville, GA. Rita is also survived by her 15 great-grandchildren, and 15 great-great-grandchildren; and her brother, James Berry (Mildred) Green of Newbern, NC.

Funeral services for Rita will be held on Sunday, January 8, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Milton Knox and Rev. Bobby Schafer officiating. She will be laid to rest next to her husband at Rhea Memory Gardens.

Please share your memories and photos of Rita on her online guest register at www.vanderwallfh.com .

The funeral will be live streamed at https://my.gather.app/remember/rita-smith-2023 .

The family is being cared for by Vanderwall Funeral Home in Dayton, TN, where they will receive friends beginning Sunday after 1:00 p.m.