Barbourville, Ky. – Sudie Ellen Smith, 88, of Barbourville, Kentucky, passed away June 24, 2026. Sudie was the daughter of Johnny Stewart and Silvia Davison Stewart born to them March 7, 1938, in Knox County, Kentucky.
Sudie fell in love with Ralph Albert Smith and in 1958 they married and soon after moved to Kannapolis, North Carolina for work and to start a family of their own. They were blessed with two sons, Kenneth, and George, whom they loved dearly. Sudie kept a comfortable home for her family while also caring for disabled children at a local church and, later, working as a teacher’s aide at Kannapolis Middle School. In her spare time, Sudie grew a beautiful flower garden, keeping the seeds at the end of each season to sow the following year. Sudie also enjoyed sewing and crocheting. Upon retirement Sudie and Ralph returned to the Appalachian Mountains where she was raised.
Left behind to mourn Sudie’s passing is her beloved son George Ellis Smith and his wife Sherrie, her brother Johnny Stewart, her sister Dorris Patterson, her sister Conny Symonds and her husband Steve, and her sister Leonia Bulthart and her husband Kenny, and sister-in-law Ada Stewart. Two grandchildren, Joshua Smith, and Tabitha Smith, and two great-grandchildren Wyatt Smith, and Mckenzie Smith also survive Sudie as does her special niece Kathy Mills. Sudie will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
In addition to her parents, Johnny and Silvia Stewart, Sudie was preceded in death by her husband Ralph Albert Smith, son Kenneth Ray Smith, brother Ted Stewart, sister-in-law Sue Stewart, sisters, and brothers-in-law, Pat Elder and her husband Bob, and Ruth Stewart Merdia and her husband Ay, sister Ruby Stewart, and brother-in-law Charles Patterson.
No public services are planned.
The Hopper family, Victoria Hopper and Sally Hopper, and the staff of Hopper Funersl Home, Mrs. Lorena Blankenship, Mr. Reid Brewer, Mr. Robin Reese, Ms. Quinlyn Chrisco, Mrs. Brenda Johnson, Mr. Steven Walker, and Mr. Darren West express sincere condolences to the family and friends of Sudie Ellen Smith.
Hopper Funeral Home, Inc., established over 100 years ago, is entrusted with servicing all arrangements for Sudie Ellen Smith.
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