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Our Staff

Who We Are

We have years of experience caring for families, from all walks of life. Each family comes to us because they know we are leaders in our profession, dedicated to excellence in service, and have the highest integrity.

Jenni Bryant
Jenni Bryant
General Manager, Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer - CFSP, CCO
Jenni Bryant
General Manager, Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer - CFSP, CCO

Jenni F. Bryant, CFSP, CCO, is a native of East Tennessee and is the General Manager of Smith Life & Legacy in Maryville, TN.  A Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer, Jenni is a graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in Atlanta.  She is a member of the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice and is the immediate Past President.  Jenni has previously served on the NFDA Convention Education Task Force Committee, The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards National Board Exam Committee and is a Certified Crematory Operator. She and her husband David have one son, Logan who recently graduated John A. Gupton College of Funeral Service in Nashville.

Tuck Smith
Tuck Smith
Grief Therapy Dog
Tuck Smith
Grief Therapy Dog

My name is Tuck. I am a friendly and fluffy Golden Doodle and I have been trained to be a Grief Therapy Dog. I love my job and hope to bring lots of comfort to people in our community. I hope you will stop by the funeral home and see me. Hugs and belly rubs are two of my favorite things!

David Everett
David Everett
Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
David Everett
Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer

A member of the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association, David graduated from Porter High School and Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in Atlanta. He and his wife Teresa have two children.

Roger Jennings
Roger Jennings
Licensed Funeral Director
Roger Jennings
Licensed Funeral Director

Roger began his funeral service career at Smiths in 1998 and is also a licensed insurance agent. He is a member of the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association. He and his wife Regina are members of Maryville Church of Christ.

Rob Caldwell
Rob Caldwell
Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
Rob Caldwell
Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer

Rob joined the Smith Care Team in 2002 and is a Past-President of the Greater Knoxville Funeral Service Association. He is a graduate of Maryville High School and Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in Atlanta. Rob volunteers for the Blount County United Way. He and his wife Susan are members of Forrest Hill Baptist Church.

Chris LaRue
Chris LaRue
Licensed Funeral Director
Chris LaRue
Licensed Funeral Director

Chris’ previous career was in the financial services industry where he worked as an instructor, consultant and Vice President of Business Development for a securities broker dealer. He is a member of several professional and civic organizations including Maryville Rotary Club and Leadership Blount. Chris is also certified as a Funeral Celebrant. He and his wife, Jennifer, and their children are members of First Baptist Church of Maryville where he serves as a Deacon.

Chris Kline
Chris Kline
Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer
Chris Kline
Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer

Chris joined the staff at Smiths in 2013 and works as a Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer. He and his wife Lauren are the proud parents of their son, Vincent.

Jeff Carroll, CFSP
Jeff Carroll, CFSP
Licensed Funeral Director / Certified Crematory Operator
Jeff Carroll, CFSP
Licensed Funeral Director / Certified Crematory Operator

Mr. Carroll is a Licensed Funeral Director and a Certified Crematory Operator. He handles the daily operations of the Life & Legacy Cremation Center. He also assists client families with funeral and cremation services. Jeff is a member of The Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice.  He and his wife Donna are members of Grandview Baptist Church where he serves as the Music Director.

Lee Berkley
Lee Berkley
Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer
Lee Berkley
Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer

Lee joined the Smith Care Team in 1984 after his graduation from Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in Atlanta. He is currently serving in the Blount County Volunteer Rescue Squad where he has volunteered for many years. He and his wife Linda have two sons. Lee is a member of Smith Life & Legacy's 30-Year Club.

Logan Bryant
Logan Bryant
Apprentice
Logan Bryant
Apprentice

Logan is a graduate of Maryville High School and John A. Gupton College.  He is currently working towards getting his Funeral Director and Embalmer licenses.

Tracy Gardner
Tracy Gardner
Business Office Administrator
Tracy Gardner
Business Office Administrator

A Certified Professional Secretary and member of the International Association of Administrative Professionals, Tracy is a graduate of Heritage High School and Pellissippi State Community College. Tracy joined the Smith staff in 1998. She and her husband Brad have a son and daughter and they are members of Law's Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.

Shirley Ford
Shirley Ford
Funeral Assistant
Shirley Ford
Funeral Assistant

Shirley began working with the Smith Care Team as a door greeter in 1997 and continues to work as an assistant with funeral and memorial services.

Jerry Hurst
Jerry Hurst
Funeral Assistant & Event Host
Jerry Hurst
Funeral Assistant & Event Host

Since 2006, Jerry was been assisting with funeral and memorial services. He and his wife Betty also assist guests at Smith Event Centers. They are members of Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church.

John Adams
John Adams
Funeral Assistant & Certified Crematory Operator
John Adams
Funeral Assistant & Certified Crematory Operator

John began working with the Smith Care Team joining our staff in 2017. He assists our client families with visitations, memorial and funeral services and is a Certified Crematory Operator. He and wife Ginger are long-time members of the Maryville Church of Christ.

Betty Hurst
Betty Hurst
Funeral Reception Hostess
Betty Hurst
Funeral Reception Hostess

Staff bio goes here

Dr. Jason Troyer
Dr. Jason Troyer
Director of Community Engagement & Grief Support Consultant
Dr. Jason Troyer
Director of Community Engagement & Grief Support Consultant

Dr. Troyer joined the staff at Smith Life & Legacy to help facilitate our community outreach. He is the founder of GriefPlan.com. For more information on this program or to reach Dr. Troyer, please visit his website: JasonTroyer.com

Jason L Chambers
Jason L Chambers
Director of Operations and Licensed Funeral Director-CFSP
Jason L Chambers
Director of Operations and Licensed Funeral Director-CFSP

Jason has lived in Maryville all his life, graduating from Maryville High School and the University of Tennessee. He is a past president of the Greater Knoxville Funeral Service Association. Jason coached with Maryville Little League, enjoys golfing and is an avid fisherman. He and his wife Angie have two children.

Dr. Lynn Gibson
Dr. Lynn Gibson
Director of Operations and Licensed Funeral Director - CFSP
Dr. Lynn Gibson
Director of Operations and Licensed Funeral Director - CFSP

A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Dallas Theological Seminary, Oxford Graduate School, and Stellenbosch University, Dr. Gibson enjoys research, writing, and teaching, and is an active member of several professional organizations. Dr. Gibson and his wife, Dr. Angelia Gibson are members of First Baptist Church of Maryville and have three sons and one daughter.

Lisa Gibson
Lisa Gibson
Licensed Funeral Director / Consultant - CFSP
Lisa Gibson
Licensed Funeral Director / Consultant - CFSP

Lisa began her funeral service career at Smiths in 1991. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina, a Leadership Blount Alumni ('02) and a long-time member of Maryville First Baptist Church. She currently serves on Smith's Senior Advisory Board and is a member of Smith Life & Legacy's 30-Year Club.

Don Gibson
Don Gibson
Don Gibson

Mr. Gibson began his funeral service career with Smiths in 1962 after working at Weaver Funeral Home in Knoxville. He attended the University of Tennessee and was a graduate of John A. Gupton Mortuary College in Nashville. Before he retired in 2009, he was involved in numerous civic and professional organizations and he served on the Advisory Board of the National Funeral Directors Association. Don served as Chairman of Smith's Senior Advisory Board from 2009 until his passing in 2023. 

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