Paula Smith

After a short battle with cancer, Paula Fowler Smith, 77, of Cleveland was fully healed and united with the Lord on Friday, October 31, 2025. Mrs. Smith was a member of Candies Creek Baptist Church at the time of her passing.

Paula was born in Alexandria, Louisiana on September 30, 1948. She grew up in the neighboring town of Pineville, Louisiana where she graduated from Pineville High School in 1966 as a member of both the Future Homemakers of America and Louisiana Teenage Library Association. After high school she spent a year studying at Northwestern State University before transferring to Louisiana Tech University for her sophomore year. During her time at Northwestern State, she met her loving husband of 57 years, Michael (Mike) Smith, while he was working as a bag boy at a Salley's grocery store in Pineville. They courted for a while before getting married in 1968 and welcoming their first son in 1969. Paula accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at Summer Grove Baptist in Shreveport Louisiana on October 10, 1977 and was baptized by her pastor Billy Crosby.

Paula and Mike moved to the Chattanooga, Tennessee area in 1989, bringing all three sons and Paula's mother along with them. During their time living in Hamilton County, Mike and Paula were long standing members of Brainerd Hills Baptist Church. In an effort to move closer to their sons and grandchildren, Paula and Mike moved to Cleveland, Tennessee in 2022, where they took up active membership at Candies Creek Baptist Church.

Paula spent most of her life being an active member in church on the weekends and weekday evenings, raising her three sons, and working as Mike's secretary and accountant when they opened their own engineering firm. Using her talents for organization and a meticulous attention to detail, Paula also served her community as the secretary for the Cleveland Hunting Rifle and Pistol Club for over 10 years.

Paula loved history, genealogy, antiques, gardening, studying God's Word, and spending time with her 3 sons and 10 grandchildren. Affectionately known as "Granmama" by all her grandkids, Paula spent her free time attending her grandkids' athletic events, artistic performances, and school events. She never missed an important event in her grandchildren's lives if she was able to. She especially loved cooking for her large family, often serving her grandchildren's favorite meal, roast beef, rice, gravy, and purple hull peas. She also enjoyed sharing her love for history and genealogy with her family, often having long conversations with her children and grandkids, recalling fond memories about her life and extended family members in specific detail. Her care and attention to detail meant she never missed a birthday or Christmas present for her family members. Every year, without fail, she took the time to search for the perfect, unique (often handmade) Christmas ornament to gift each of her grandchildren. Paula Smith spent her time on earth serving and loving her devoted husband and family.

Paula was preceded in death by her parents, Orvin Fowler and Thelma Pirkle Fowler, and brother James Fowler. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Michael I. Smith; her children and their spouses, Randy (Susan) Smith, Jeffrey (Jackie) Smith, and Richard (Heather) Smith; her ten grandchildren, Alexandria, Jake, Ben, and Luke (Randy), Adeline, Owen, Wyatt, and Millie Kate (Jeffrey), and Alana and Sierra (Richard); her brother, Malcolm Fowler; two nephews, and several extended family members.

A homegoing service will be held at 3pm on Saturday, November 15 in the sanctuary at Candies Creek Baptist Church, with Pastor Stan Gibson officiating. Interment will be held immediately following the service in the Candies Creek Baptist Church cemetery with Jake, Ben, Luke, Owen, and Wyatt Smith and Corey Parker serving as pallbearers. The family will receive friends before the service on Saturday November 15 from 1pm to 3pm at Candies Creek Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Dana Work Scholarship fund through Candies Creek Baptist Church and Hilger Higher Learning in Paula's honor. The family would also like to thank the Cody family at Companion funeral home for helping us give Paula the service she deserves.