Joan Smith

Born in New Orleans, LA on January 25, 1953

Departed on May 4, 2017 and resided in Nashville, TN

Ms. Joan Caron Smith, also known as "Joanie" to her friends and family, age 64 of Nashville, entered into eternal rest on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at Maury Regional Medical Center in Columbia.

A native of New Orleans, LA, Joan was the daughter of the late John Powell Smith, Jr and Myrtle Phillips Smith.

Joan was a 1974 cum laude graduate of Dillard University, in New Orleans, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry. She entered medical school at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, and finished her education in her field of passion, earning her PhD in Biomedical Sciences in May 2006. She loved her position as Lab Manager in the Research Department at Meharry. There her family grew through the many co-workers and researchers she loved and mentored.

Joan is described by her family and friends as "intelligent, opinionated and having a great sense of humor." But this simply doesn't touch her greatest personality traits. She was loving and kind to others, worrying about them before herself. She will be remembered as a loyal friend and tutor. She tutored her younger sister in school, as well as her nieces and nephews. She also served as a math tutor to students at Nashville State. Helping students learn math was a major goal. She would often say, "You don't memorize...it has to make sense." Then she would teach them in a way that the material made sense.

Joan was a voracious reader. She loved mysteries and thrillers, often reading Dean Koontz and Stephen King novels.

Above her accomplishments and experiences, Joan will be cherished as a nurturer. She was the rock of her family who extended her passion for life to those around her.

To celebrate her life and cherish her memory, Joan is survived by three siblings: Melanie (Michael) Flippin of Franklin, Marsha Smith (Clarence) Malbrough of Lafayette, LA and David (Tracy) Smith of Nashville; four nieces and nephews: Angelle Malbrough of LA, David Pope of Nashville, McKenzie Flippin of Franklin and John Flippin of Franklin; and a host of extended family and friends.

Her family will celebrate her life with visitation on Saturday, May 13, from 10:00 - 11:00 AM at St. Vincent De Paul Church and a funeral mass to follow at 11:00 AM. Entombment will follow at Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens in Nashville.