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About Us

Our Story

Learn our story, from the beginning and into the future.

Ever since we opened our doors and gates we have approached life (and death) differently. While some just see the end of a loved one’s life as a time for grief and mourning, we prefer to think of it as a time for reflection, appreciation and even celebration. This is evident in everything we do, from the way we conduct our services to the amenities we choose to offer. We are not a burial ground. We are a close knit community dedicated to honoring, sharing and preserving the amazing and inspirational stories that are life.

Why Us?

In a nutshell? Experience, professionalism, compassion, and empathy.

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We've learned a lot over many years. Like how to present options without overwhelming. And how to meet the needs of many caring parties. People come to us in difficult times, and we respond kindness, calmness and expertise. Our goal is to create a beautiful occasion and make you feel welcome, always. We spend our days planning with families. We stay up to date with industry developments. And we make hard times a little easier.

Learn the Legacy.

Experience the Difference

We truly care about serving others as nurturing caregivers. Our commitment extends to each and every family who calls upon us. Perhaps this is why the National Funeral Directors Association even recognized our organization with the Pursuit of Excellence Best of the Best Award - a prestigious professional recognition given only to the top 4 funeral homes in our nation. We invite you to discover the people who have made Smith Funeral & Cremation Service Blount County's most trusted provider of creating healing experiences. This section contains the heritage, vision, and the people behind Smith Funeral & Cremation Service's reputation of quality, sincerity, and trust.

Our Mission is to honor life and legacy through meaningful experiences. 



Our Philosophy of funeral service is built around Professional Bereavement Care. Being a funeral service professional today means: 


  • 1) the proper care and disposition of the deceased


  • 2) the pastoral care of families


  • 3) the proclamation of human dignity to our community. Our bereavement caregiving is marked by practical, pastoral, and proclamatory elements of funeral service that fosters human wholeness and well-being.


Our Organizational Creed, WE CARE, stands for Willingness, Expertise, Compassion, Attitude, Respect, and Excellence.

Over 50 Years Ago

our funeral home was founded by Mr. Leonard Smith. Mr. Smith was compelled by the importance of funeral service because he had a true heart for helping families who had suffered a loss. When he established Smith Mortuary in 1962, Mr. Smith already had extensive experience in working with families in grief. He had been a funeral director with the well-respected McCammon-Ammons Funeral Home in Blount County.


Mr. Don Gibson started from the beginning with Mr. Smith in 1962 and Mr. Ralph Chambers joined with them shortly after in 1969. Together, Mr. Smith, Mr. Gibson, and Mr. Chambers set a strong foundation for our funeral home. Because their sympathy and compassion were a comfort to families who trusted them with their funeral arrangements, and because they fundamentally understood the value of community and supportive friends, the Smith organization grew steadily through the years.


The Smith name became known for professional excellence and a willingness to assist families with a variety of helpful services during their times of loss. Grandview Cemetery was acquired in 1975, allowing families to make all their funeral and interment arrangements in one place, and with one company. Mr. Chamber’s son, Lee Chambers, joined the organization in 1976. Over the years, Smith has added more services and more facilities for the convenience of families: a flower shop, a children’s playroom, a resource library, and ample parking, just to name a few.  In 2003, the Life Event Center was added, which is

available to the community for meetings, meals, and celebrations of life. We also added the Smithview Pavilion in 2008, a picturesque outdoor venue for funerals and memorial gatherings and the Smith Professional Center in 2012, a modern reception hall and learning center for the convenience of our community.


Leonard Smith died in 1991, but he entrusted his core values and legacy of compassion to the families of the partners who joined him since the beginning. Today, the firm is still operated by the same families who started with Mr. Smith over 50 years ago: Lynn Gibson, Jason Chambers, Justin Chambers, and Lisa Gibson.


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