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Sue Smith was a free spirit, who enjoyed having fun, laughing, loving, and being a friend to those around her.
However, the source of the love and laughter was her love for God and her church at Little Milligan Baptist. Every day she could be found doing for others.
A life-long resident of the Little Milligan Community, except for a brief time when she and her husband, Bart, lived in Louisiana when he served in the U.S. Air Force, Sue was one of 10 children of Dave and Ethel Clawson Rainbolt.
Sue was many things to many different people. She was a homemaker, making a home for her husband and two daughters, which was her crowning achievement. However, she had worked as a cosmetologist, as a cook at several different eating establishments, and for over 20 years drove a Carter County school bus for handicapped children.
Her pastor, Sammy Icenhour, at Sue’s memorial service shared that she was a big part of the church family at Little Milligan Baptist. “She touched the lives of numerous children. Sue taught the children in Sunday School, taught Children’s Church, was WMU director, helped with the GAs, and sang in the choir. She wanted to be in the middle of what God was doing in her church. So many lives have been influenced and impacted by her ministry,” the pastor said.
“Children were her passion,” shared Bart, her husband. “If there was a baby around, Susie could be found, usually holding it. She loved the children at Little Milligan Baptist and enjoyed teaching them and doing things with them.”
Susie was a people person. She never met a stranger, if so, they didn’t stay that way long. “She met so many people through her work at the Captain’s Table, Doe Mountain Inn, and other places she worked as a cook, waitress, etc.,” Bart shared.
He added that Susie was a very good cook, but recently had not cooked so much. “I have cancer and have not been able to eat too well, so she wouldn’t cook just for herself. But, when the girls and grandchildren were around, she enjoyed cooking,” Bart said.
“Susie was a lot of things to a lot of people, but her church was her life. If the doors of Little Milligan Baptist Church were open, she was there. She had a great testimony,” said Bart.
Her pastor noted that when Susie sang in the church choir, she was always waving her hands in praise to God. Bart shared that Susie’s favorite songs were “I’ll Meet You In the Morning” and “Because He Lives,” songs that were sung at her funeral.
Her husband shared the story of a lady who Susie had witnessed to over a period of several years. “She never gave up on her. They worked together, and when the lady cursed, Susie in a loving way would correct her. After Susie died, the lady came to me and shared, “If you get to Heaven before I do, tell Susie ‘she’s on her way…I got saved,’” Bart shared with both happiness and tears.
Etta Sue Rainbolt Smith died Dec. 11 due to complications of pneumonia and COVID-19. She was one of 82 Carter Countians to die of the virus.
In addition to her husband, she leaves behind two daughters, Cindy and Vicki, and six grandchildren.
COVID silenced the life of Susie Smith, but it can’t silence her testimony, because it still lives and will for a long time to come.