Margaret Smith

🌸 Margaret Kidd Smith 🌸 Matriarch | Doting Grandmother | Baptist Faith | Music Enthusiast | Beach Lover | Bookworm | Mother of 5 & "Mimi" "Mims" "Grandma" to many grandchildren

Margaret was born in Sweetwater, TN on Thursday, November 9th 1933 to George and Myrtle Kidd. She already had 5 older siblings at home waiting for her; brothers Garnett, Earl, Kenneth & sisters Wanda and Barbara (Bobbi). But, she wasn't the 6th and last child, as three more siblings came along after Margaret.

Margaret's sisters were her best friends and the 5 of them each had special bonds. From childhood through young adulthood, getting married and having babies, eventually, one summer evening, these young "girls" who used to go out dancing on the town realized they were now "old" Southern women wearing funny hats and giggling as they sat outside together on the front porch.

Since Margaret came from a large family, it made sense that she wanted one of her own and she chose an amazing man to build a life with. She married Earl Smith Sr. (Sonny) in 1952 and together they had 5 children, three sons and two daughters, where they lived in Knoxville, TN. Margaret and Sonny then became grandparents to a total of 10 grandchildren and countless great-grandchildren.

In 1997, Sonny passed away at the tender age of 65. The loss was unbearable but Margaret kept going and pushed through. The two had been married for 45 years and created many branches on the family tree. Margaret never re-married, as she felt her heart would always belong to him.

Margaret suffered another significant loss years later when her eldest child, Sondra, passed away unexpectedly at only 53 years old. At the time, Margaret was in Apopka, Florida with her two older sisters, who were also widows. They were living on the campground that Margaret's sister owned and the ladies stayed tan, busy and tired. Sondra would visit often and stay for weeks. But it was when she passed away that Margaret made the decision to come back home to Tennessee. "I can't be away from my kids again.", she said.

Between losing her husband, oldest daughter and all 8 of her siblings, Margaret remained strong, compassionate and always put her family first. Her home that she lived in for several decades was still full from all the love that once was. And it was Margaret's special place.

Next to the beach, that is...

Margaret was possibly the biggest beach lover there ever was and at least two family beach trips were mandatory each summer. (a family tradition for over 15 years!) You could find her on a raft in the ocean or by the water's edge, sunbathing in a beach chair and listening to earphones.

An avid reader with a serious sweet tooth, Margaret was quick to offer you a piece of candy or chocolate because she kept stashes everywhere. She was known for speaking the truth and serving up honesty, especially when it came to subpar coffee (Fresh and served HOT, please). She had a whole lot of sass and certainly didn't like to be told what to do. If anything, she would be doing the telling!

Margaret's love language was food and she was a big foodie herself. She would cook some of the best homemade dishes with her own recipes - vegetable soup, ham & red gravy, meatloaf, potato salad and biscuits and gravy were some family favorites. Thanksgiving was her time to shine with homemade dressing that always had the perfect amount of sage. She was picky about eating other people's cooking because no one could beat her own, in her opinion.

Music was Margaret's lifeline and she loved singing. There was always music playing in the house via a record player, 45's, cassette tapes, CD's, etc. Margaret didn't care how music devices evolved; she only cared that she had music to listen to. She had an eclectic taste spanning decades and genres. No need for TV when she could spend an entire day lost in melodies. Singing at the of her lungs whole-heartedly. And, even at 90 years old, Elvis still made her heart skip a beat.

A dedicated & loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt, she cherished her family above all else.

Margaret passed away peacefully during her sleep on the night of March 20th, 2024. Her legacy will forever live on through the generations she nurtured and loved.

"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" John 14:2-6 KJV