Martha Jean "Polly" Turner Smith, 83, a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, of Athens, died Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009, at Parkwest Hospital in Knoxville.

A native of Newport, she had resided in Athens for the past 55 years. She was a daughter of the late Arthur Burl and Ellen Turner, and was preceded in death by one daughter, Carolyn Dodd, in March 2009; and one sister, Dean Kelsey. She was a devout Christian and a volunteer with CONTACT for 25 years. She was recognized with the Mary R. Brown Society Award, which is a national award for outstanding achievement and commitment to volunteer service with CONTACT, a crisis help line. She was a volunteer at NHC Health Care and Life Care Center of Athens.

Survivors include her husband of 63 years, John Herschel Smith of Athens; one daughter and son-in-law, Hershella "Shelly" and Jay Gleason of Huntersville, N.C.; one sister, Margaret Freeman of Johnson City; and two grandchildren, Charles Dodd and Elizabeth Dodd.

Funeral services will be 7 p.m. Friday in the chapel of Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home with the Rev. Charles Ensminger officiating. Burial will be 11 a.m. Saturday in McMinn Memory Gardens.

Pallbearers will be Jack Harrison, Hugh Maughan, Charles Dodd, Jay Gleason, Jason Wice and Lebron Skelton.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to CONTACT, P.O. Box 69, Athens, TN 37371-0069.