Ida Smothers

Ida Herod Smothers, 89, also known as Dee Smothers, of Thompsons Station, TN, passed away following a short illness on September 2, 2021. Ida was born in 1932, in Hartsville, TN and grew up on her parents’ farm in Gallatin, TN.

Ida was an artist, writer, homemaker, loving wife, and beloved mother. She is survived by her son, Norman Smothers, sister Julia Carnahan, and sister Helen Marshall.

Ida’s favorite saying was ‘You’re my precious!’ This is exactly how she chose to live her life. Everyone and everything was precious to her.

Ida briefly attended Lipscomb University, where she met her husband, Fount Smothers . While raising two sons she earned her BA and MA in Painting and Dramatic Arts at Ohio University.

On April 14, 2021, at age 88, Ida performed a dramatic reading of poems written by her daughter-in-law, Natalia Smothers, for her Franklin TN DAR Chapter Meeting (link to the video here: https://youtu.be/ay6185MGeTU).

Ida was very active in historical societies, serving in State and National offices for DAR and the Huguenot Society. In 2007, while serving as DAR’s Tennessee State Historian, together with Martha Cummings, co-authored and co-published their 936-page magnum opus, “Historical Markers Placed by the Tennessee Society of DAR.”

In her spare time Ida loved spending time with her family; with the congregation of St Paul’s church in Franklin, TN; with the DAR and Huguenot societies; and with the restoration of her historic home, Maple Lawn, in Thompsons Station, TN.

Ida was a kind and loving partner to her husband, Fount, and a dedicated mother to her two boys, always encouraging them.

Ida will be laid to rest on September 13, 2021, adjacent to her husband, Fount Smothers, who preceded her in death on May 12, 2021, and her sister-in-law, Katherine Douglas, in the Graceland area of Woodlawn Cemetery, in Nashville, TN.