David Cleveland Smith

October 3, 1932 - June 27, 2020

David Cleveland “Cleve” Smith passed away peacefully at Jefferson Park in Dandridge on June 27, 2020. He was born on October 3, 1932 in Knoxville, TN. Cleve was a 1951 graduate of Jefferson City High School and attended TMI and Carson-Newman University. He joined the United States Air Force during the Korean War, serving as a Senior Supply Clerk and Radar Plotting Specialist with the 119th ACW in Knoxville, TN that was later attached to the 564th AD-Gp at Otis Air Force Base in Falmouth, Massachusetts. Cleve retired from Carson-Newman University in 1994 as a Grounds Supervisor with the Maintenance Department. Cleve enjoyed and was greatly successful in field research, speaking and writing about pre-historic archaeology and the Civil War in this area. He authored three books on many previously unrecorded sites and events that took place during the Civil War in Jefferson and surrounding counties. He was inducted into the Jefferson County Historical Society Hall of Fame. Cleve was a member of First Baptist Church, Jefferson City. He was preceded in death by his mother, Bernice Bible Smith Shipley, father, Orie Lincoln “OL” Smith, son David M. Smith, and loving wife of 48 years, Betty Lou Russell Smith. He is survived by his sister, Nita Sue Baum (Charlie), daughter, Patti Brown (Mike), son, Brian Smith (Elaine), grandchildren, Chris Brown (Meredith), Stephanie Brown Ownby (Conley), Jennifer Smith, Kelly Smith Stalsworth (Justin), Tyler Smith (Mackenzie), great-grandchildren, Mia Celleste Grant, Ian Tate, Margaret Jane Brown, Emma, Liam and Ewan Ownby, great-great grandchildren, Celeana, Maisia and Caspian and several nieces and nephews. A military graveside service will be held at 1:30 Thursday, July 2, at Jefferson Memorial Gardens officiated by Dr. Greg Lindsey. Arrangements by Fielden Funeral Home in New Market, TN.