“I HAVE GROWN up and lived in the best of times, and I am very thankful that Jesus has given me such a beautiful life.” — Roy Smith Jr.
For more than nine decades, Roy “Junior” Smith Jr. has lived with a sincerity, resilience, and grounded faith that reflect the best of his generation. As the eldest child of Roy Smith Sr. and Anesta “Honey” Rose Smith, he grew up among what he lovingly calls “the best of the best.” Parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins shaped him through their work ethic, humor, tenderness, and steadfast faith in Jesus Christ.
One of the earliest family stories he remembers involves his uncle, Carson Rose, questioning what Honey ever saw in Smith’s father — a young man from Grundy County who often showed up to dates straight from work, dusty instead of dressed in a crisp shirt and tie.
Honey’s reply was simple: “Carson, they didn’t have Roy’s smile.” It was a smile her children would come to treasure, one that reflected the warmth, steadiness, and love that held their home together.
Junior’s own story of enduring love began early. At 8 years old, he met the girl who would one day become his wife, Clementine “Tine” Gallagher.
A few years later, he unknowingly found himself disciplined by his future father-in-law, Joseph E. “Pap” Gallagher, who was then an elementary school teacher. After a teammate intentionally tripped him during basketball practice, Junior threatened to retaliate. When the teammate told the teacher, Gallagher listened before asking, “Do you use that language at home?” When Junior said no, he gently replied, “Then don’t talk that way here.” The moment stayed with him.
Though Junior and Tine occasionally crossed paths growing up, their lives didn’t fully intertwine until years later.
In his teenage years, Junior faced decisions that would shape his future. When weight restrictions kept him off the high school football team, he declared he was done with school. His mother refused to tell his father, leaving Junior to deliver the news himself. His father responded by offering a compromise — work on the family farm for 50 cents a day until he reconsidered school the following year.
However, Junior had his mind set elsewhere. Determined to build his own path, he set out to buy his first pickup truck. The bank denied him a loan unless his family cosigned, but a chance meeting with a former classmate changed everything. The classmate introduced him to his grandfather, the bank president, who approved the loan immediately. It marked the start of a life strengthened by hard work and community trust.
By 16, Smith was driving 18-wheelers across the country, hauling anything from potatoes and mules to watermelons and straw. Tennessee had introduced driver’s license requirements in 1938, but age limits were loosely enforced, allowing him to begin a career on the road far earlier than most. His commercial license would expire only recently, marking the end of a remarkable chapter that had been decades in the making.
In early 1946, Junior reunited with Tine in Chattanooga. She and her sister, Dean, were walking home from work at Olan Mills when he spotted them and escorted the group to the Tivoli Theatre. The encounter reignited a childhood affection. Several months later, he proposed.
Before celebrating, he visited the home of his former teacher, Pap Gallagher, to ask permission to marry his daughter. “Which one?” Pap joked. When he gave his blessing, Junior described the moment as “music to his ears.”
The couple married in August 1946 at the Church of St. Peter and Paul in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, accompanied by siblings and in-laws. Their marriage became a reflection of shared values, steady respect, and faith rooted in Jesus. Together, they welcomed eight children: Bill, Pamela, Cynthia Rose, Lauralee, Joe Wayne, Patti Sue, Glenn Dale, and Stacie Lynn.
Junior credits Tine for creating a home where faith and structure flourished. She tended gardens, preserved food, and prayed through the long nights while he was on the road. Her mother taught her how to nourish a large family, and she carried those lessons into every meal and season of life. Her sister, Dean, and other relatives played essential roles in helping raise the children, giving Junior the confidence to work long hours without worry.
Junior often speaks with admiration of his father, Sheriff Roy Smith, whose leadership left a lasting mark on Franklin County. Though he lost his first campaign, he went on to serve three full terms from 1962 to 1968. His goal was simple and deeply moral — to make the county a better place for future generations.
Junior and Tine’s life together lasted nearly 74 years. Tine passed away just 13 days before their anniversary at age 94, and her absence is still felt. Yet their legacy continues through eight children, 21 grandchildren, and 38 great-grandchildren, including a newborn addition in recent days.
Today, Junior enjoys welcoming visitors, sharing stories, and reflecting on the blessings of his long life. Though his pace has slowed, his gratitude has not. Junior remains convinced that every chapter has been a gift from Jesus, one he hopes his family will always remember. GN
