Roberta Mae Smith

On December 11, 1938, in Memphis, Tennessee, Willie and Ruby Lindsey welcomed their seventh of ten children, a baby girl named Roberta Mae Lindsey.

Roberta accepted Christ at an early age and worshiped faithfully with her family at St. John Baptist Church on Vance Avenue in Memphis, TN. After moving to Clarksville, she became a devoted and faithful member of Community Chapel (formerly Chapel #6) on Ft. Campbell, KY, where she served diligently from the chapel's very conception in the 1970s. In 2022, Roberta returned to Tennessee settling in Knoxville. As her health deteriorated, she was still faithful and became a member of Overcoming Believers Church where she remained until her passing.

A proud graduate of Booker T. Washington High School's Class of 1955, Roberta pursued higher education with determination. She earned both her Baccalaureate and Master's degrees from Tennessee State A & I, now Tennessee State University, and later completed her Education Specialist degree at Austin Peay State University. She lived her calling as an educator, pouring into the lives of countless students and always striving for excellence in herself and others.

Roberta was a beloved and dedicated member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., where she joyfully reached the milestone of becoming a Golden Soror, celebrating over 50 years of committed service. She was known for proudly wearing her pink and green, often alongside her sister, daughter, nieces, and grandnieces-or simply whenever she chose.

On her birthday, December 11, 1958, Roberta met the love of her life, Jobie Daniel Smith. Their whirlwind romance blossomed into a marriage on July 3, 1959, that lasted 66 years. Together, they raised six children-five daughters and one son-and created a legacy rooted in faith, family, and love in Clarksville, Tennessee.

Roberta was deeply grateful for her roles as wife, mother, daughter, sister, and, most importantly, child of God. An avid lover of sports, she could often be found in the stands cheering loudly and proudly for her children. Her support extended beyond her family to the many children she encountered, encouraging and shaping lives with her words, her presence, and her example. She was a teacher in every sense-demanding excellence, modeling perseverance, and embodying love.

On September 18th, Roberta went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She was preceded in death by her husband Jobie, three daughters, her parents, two brothers, and four sisters. Left to cherish her memory are her son, Joel (Katrina) Smith of Knoxville, TN; daughters Brenda (James) Childs of Monroe, OH, and Midori (Alan) Hendrix of Groveport, OH; sisters JoAnne (David) Jones, Ruby Jean Johnson, and Agnes Williams; along with a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who will continue to honor and celebrate her remarkable life.