Services held for Board of Ed member Smith
Funeral services were held Monday evening for Scott County Board of Education member and local philanthropist Vivian Smith, who died Friday morning. She was 65.
Smith represented Oneida (6th District) on the school board, and was in her third term. She was elected as part of a sweeping change in 2000 that saw three newcomers elected to the seven-member board. She went on to become the first school board member in county history to obtain Level V Master Status and also received the National School Board Association’s Recognition Award.
Prior to her election to the Board of Education, Smith retired from Scott County government as solid waste director, where she organized the “Scott County Looks Good To Me” and “I Spy” programs.
An eight-year cancer survivor, Smith was remembered by friends for her upbeat approach to fighting the illness and for the compassion she showed towards others facing cancer. She worked tirelessly as a volunteer for the American Cancer Society, serving as co-chairperson for the ACS’s local Relay For Life, as well as on the ACS’s Leadership Council and a Scott County support group for the ACS.
Smith was dedicated to community service in many other areas as well. As a volunteer, she served on the committee of the Scott County Fairest of the Fair, the advisory committees for Tennessee Scholars, the Museum of Scott County and the Tennessee Technology Comsetology department, and was a board member of Applalachia Habitat for Humanity. She also served as a board member of Clinch-Powell Educational Cooperative, as secretary-treasurer for Housing Opportunities of People (HOPE), Salvation Army’s Scott County unit, Scott County 4-H, Leadership Scott and Youth Leadership Scott.
In 2006, Smith was inducted into the Scott County Hall of Fame by the Boys & Girls Club of Scott County as a community volunteer, and also received recognition as “Vivian Smith Day” at the Scott County Fair. Last year, she received the Humanitarian Award from the Scott County Chamber of Commerce for her dedication to volunteer services in Scott County. She also received the Governor’s Volunteer Star Award from the State of Tennessee last year.
Smith was also recognized by resolutions adopted by Scott County Commission and the Tennessee House of Representatives.
In addition to her mother, Mable West Butler, Smith is survived by her husband, Richard B. “Dick” Smith, and son Richard J. Smith and wife Brandi.