Helen M. Southards

Helen Parrish Southards, age 85 went home to be with the Lord on November 30, 2017. We shall miss her sweet smile and giving of herself to make others happy. She was a loving wife and mother, loved children and they loved her. She was a great cook and housekeeper. Helen grew up in Bryson City, NC; graduated from Swain County High School and Berea College. She taught in Elementary Schools in Haywood County, NC, Raleigh, NC and in Thackston School in Knoxville, TN. She was a devoted member of West Knoxville Baptist Church where she played the piano and organ and First Baptist Church of Maryville where she sang in the choir, worked with children, assisted with beginning string classes and participated in mission activities. She was preceded in death by her parents, Claude T. and Eulah Parrish, sister, Nell Rickman (Carr) and her brother, Wayne (Ellen) Parrish. She is survived by her husband, Carroll Southards; son & daughter-in-law, Richard & Susan Southards of Pickerington, OH; son, Les Southards of Knoxville, TN; daughter & son-in-law, Lisa & Paul Brown of Morristown; grandchildren, Brandi Lee & husband, Andrew Lee, Brad Southards and Alisa Brown; great-grandchildren, Jaiden, Noah and Evie Thoms, Brecken & Harper Lee; sisters & brothers-in-law, Louise & Charles Murray, Doris & Jack Hazlewood; brother & sister-in-law, Claude “Pete” & Lou Parrish; numerous nieces & nephews. The family will receive friends from 5:30pm until 7:30pm Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at Smith Trinity Chapel. Funeral service will be held at 12:00 noon Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at Smith Trinity Chapel with Rev. Charles Ballard and Dr. Bill Booth officiating. Interment will follow at Grandview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Maryville, UT Cancer Institute or to a favorite charity of your choice. A special thank you to Dr. Wahid T. Hanna and his staff for their compassionate care and to the nurses and other doctors at UT Medical Center who took such good care of our mother. Funeral arrangements by Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Helen M. Southards please visit our Sympathy Store.