Julia Ruth Smith

(ROANOKE) Julia Ruth Smith, 75, formerly of Chattanooga, passed away Sunday, July 16, 2023, in Sumner Medical Center in Gallatin, Tenn.

In her early years, Smith was a student at Randolph County Training School, in Roanoke. As a young adult, she spent many years working as a seamstress at Palm Beach Manufacturing and Terry Manufacturing Company, in Roanoke. She completed her working years and retired from Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga.

She was a loving daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, cousin, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister-in-law. But her most prestigious honor was being a child of GOD and allowing His Will to be done in and throughout her life.

Julia is preceded in death by her mother, Jessie Mae Satterwhite; father, Woodroe Wilson Collins; son, Jerrick Smith; two brothers, Walter L. Collins and Wilson Jr. Collins; and granddaughter, Crystal Johnson.

Survivors include her two daughters, Jacqueline Johnson and Tracey Smith, both of Gallatin; two sons, Frankie Collins and Carey Collins, both of Chattanooga; two sisters, Mary Jeanette Hill of Roanoke and Diane Toney of Chattanooga; one brother, Jimmy Collins of Roanoke; a devoted cousin/sister, Edna Mae Blakes of Roanoke; six granddaughters, Brandi Collins, Brilexis Collins, Colby Abrams, Makalia Mynatt, Carrigan Collins and Kala Piper; three grandsons, Marico Collins, Devendra Carlisle and George McCurty; 10 great-grandsons, Tyrik, Jaylen, Jalanden, Joshua, Jacob, Cameron, Jahkari, Prince, Zhyon and Zaden; five great-granddaughters, Brielle, Mahari, Sonora, Skyler and Jacionna; ex-husband, Carey E. Smith of Roanoke; a devoted like-a-daughter, Gayle Raines of Chattanooga; a host of nieces; nephews;cousins; sisters-in-law; brothers-in-law; other relatives and friends.