Jerry and Linda Butler

Anna Jane Johnson Smith

Anna Jane Johnson Smith, 91, life-time resident of Decaturville, passed away Monday, June 24 in Nashville at the TriStar Skyline Trauma Center.

Anna Jane was born to Al and Alice Fisher Johnson on September 1, 1927 in
Decaturville. She grew up in Decaturville, was an active member of the Decaturville
First United Methodist Church and graduated high school there in 1947. After graduation, she worked in the afternoons in the printing room at the Decatur County Herald before she went to work at Salant and Salant in Parsons and remained there for 34 years until it closed. On July 31, 1971 she married the love of her life, Collins Smith. After work, she enjoyed helping Collins run Smith’s Grocery in Decaturville until it closed in 1978. Her favorite pastime when she was not working and after she retired was working beside her husband, Collins, on their cattle farm in Mt. Carmel. She loved the outdoors, tending cattle, mending fences and driving the tractor when there was work to be done.

Anna Jane’s love for Decaturville was no secret. She volunteered at Decatur County Manor to assist with activities whenever possible. In 2009, she proudly served with her husband as Grand Marshal for the Decaturville Christmas Parade.

In 2010, when Collins went to his heavenly home, Anna Jane found comfort in the love of her family and
friends, her Church, and going to the Monday Scotts Hill cattle sale each week; however, she was still lonely and made a decision to live life to the fullest. She joined the Decatur County Senior Center and became a very active member. She was heard saying, the people, fellowship and activities of the center, in some ways saved her life. She was very clear that she did not want the senior’s bus to leave the center without her on it. The members quickly became her extended family and she really enjoyed spending time playing games, socializing and traveling to various points of interest that always left her describing the event for days to come. She loved people and she loved talking. She truly never met a stranger – just new friends. While attending the DCSC she was excited and greatly honored to be a recipient of the Decatur County Senior Center Gold Star Award.

The 2013 Decaturville Main Street Festival was dedicated to her and she received a key to the city as a longtime resident. She loved to share stories of growing up, family, getting married, and living life in Decaturville, the garden spot of the world, as she described it. Some of her favorite stories were of her father, Al. She loved to tell of his experiences while delivering mail in Decaturville by horse and buggy; she would laugh as she would share how on one occasion he had actually ridden his horse up the steps and straight through the court house.

Anna Jane leaves behind two nephews, Alan Montgomery and Vincent Montgomery; three nieces, Peggy
Johnson, Linda Taylor and Kathy Greenway; many great nieces and nephews and a host of other family and friends that will miss her dearly.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Collins Smith; her parents, Al and Alice Fisher Johnson; two sisters, Mary Alice Potts and Lucy Nunnery; half-brothers, Val Johnson and Thomas Johnson; half-sister, Allie White; and three nephews, Ray Alison Potts, David Potts and Joe Randal Potts.

Services for Ms. Anna Jane were held at the First United Methodist Church in Decaturville Thursday, June
27, 2019 at 2 p.m. with Bro. Earl Dickerson officiating.

Memorial gifts may be given to Decaturville First United Methodist Church in Decaturville.

Serving as pallbearers were Shaun Moore, Jimmy Potts, Joe Taylor, Wesley Greenway, Rocky Greenway
and Pete Lomax.

• The News Leader, Parsons, TN, July 3, 2019