Dr. Harold Stewart Smith

Dr. Harold Stewart Smith was one of those rare humans who never ran out of love, kindness, or patience. “HS” was born on February 7th, 1935, to Alexander Stewart Smith and Mary Ruth Strickland in Birmingham, Alabama. On August 30th, 1956, he married the woman he would spend over 65 years loving, Julia Claire Wright Smith. While earning his graduate degrees from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, he and Julia started their family… bringing Rachel and Philip into the world, and beginning his journey of becoming a devoted father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. In his 87 years on this Earth, Harold pastored churches in Indiana and Kentucky, worked at Lifeway Christian Resources, shared the Bible as a professor at Belmont University, and taught Sunday School. Harold educated others in the ways of Christ… but beyond that, he exemplified action-based faith by loving others. Harold wasn’t beholden to fixtures of religion, but rather, pushed for growth in his own beliefs, making them stronger at every turn. He believed kindness, love, compassion, and inclusivity were the way. Harold’s theology wasn’t just found in text or behind a pulpit, but in the way his arms were outstretched to all. If you were ever blessed enough to be in a room with Dr. Smith – odds are he was the smartest one there… but he wouldn’t be the one to tell you that. Instead, he’d offer clever one-liners, or even a song with made-up lyrics just to see you smile. It’s that humor, the smirks, the home-cooked meals, and the life talks that his family will miss most about “Pappy.” The time shared with Harold was always quality. He not only made those around him feel special, he made them believe it too. On July 23rd, 2022, surrounded by his wife and children, Harold Smith returned home to God. Harold will live on through his loving wife, Julia Claire Wright Smith, children Rachel Helen Smith Childress and Philip Stewart Smith (Veronica), as well as grandchildren: Julianna Ruth Reagan (Childress), Delaney Adele Smith Childress, Daniel Stewart Smith, and Matthew Ray James. They are all charged with passing on Pappy stories to his great-grandchildren: Hannah Elizabeth Reagan, Mary Adele Reagan, Claire Catherine Reagan, Chloe Isabel Reagan, Caleb Stewart Smith, and Lily Zelda James. Join family and friends in honoring his life at Nashville First Baptist Church, 108 7th Avenue South, on Thursday, July 28th. Visitation will begin at 1 pm with a service to follow at 2 pm. Donations can be made to Alive Hospice, 1718 Patterson St, Nashville, TN 37203, alivehospice.org. Arrangements in the care of Compassion Funeral & Cremation Services, 6949 Charlotte Pike, Suite 104 (615) 857-9955. We proudly remain locally owned & operated.