BRANDI SMITH said she was an unusually talkative and wild child who teetered somewhere between Scout from “To Kill a Mockingbird” and Idgie Threadgoode from “Fried Green Tomatoes.” “I talked too much, and I couldn’t sit still. I had no idea where that would take me in life or if there would even be a place for me. But I was blessed from the heavens because Daddy taught me to work hard for what I wanted. Momma taught me that a mother’s love never fails. My sister, Ashley, taught me that hard work and determination pay off. And my grandmother, Gayle Wheeler, taught me someone has to be the glue to hold it all together.”
As an adult, Smith is the dedicated, hard-working employee her father and sister spoke about. She took to heart her mother’s words about unending love, and she has become the super glue that bonds everyone together. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, she said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” She is a doting mother to her adult sons, Brandon Smith and Dyson Collins, and her granddaughter, Landree. Brandi is a dedicated employee of Jack Daniel’s Distillery, a longtime board member of the county fair, and a volunteer with Wreaths Across America in Moore County. Ten years ago, on Veterans Day, Brandi began making goodie bags as a special thank you for fellow employees who served in the military. This simple act of kindness now includes donations from several veteran-owned companies, which supply the yearly gifts that Brandi faithfully distributes. The VFW of Lincoln County recently surprised Brandi with an award recognizing her commitment and service to veterans, plus she received an additional award from the Air Force recruiting unit.
Brandi is the director of the Bedford County Fairest of the Fair pageant, and in 2019, she was the recipient of the Stoby Neeley Volunteer Award. The People’s Choice initiative for the Fairest of the Fair pageant allows contestants to donate to local charities. This has resulted in donations of over $20,000 for Homes of Hope of Bedford County to provide for the needs of foster children. Clothe Our Kids of Bedford County received around $2,500 in donations, and New Destiny Dog Rescue received approximately $10,000.
When something is important, you always make time for it, said Brandi. “I was born and raised in Bedford County. I raised my children here. My granddaughter will grow up here. My parents and all my grandparents grew up here. This is my community. My friends are here. I want people to be as proud of this community as I am. I want everyone to embrace our diversities and figure out a way to come together and grow. Being involved gives you an outlet to meet new people and make new friends.”
Helping others reach their highest potential is important to Brandi. “I just try to lead by example. I hope that when others see someone doing good, they want to do good too. I hope it has a ripple effect. I want to inspire the next generation to be more involved. Because what happens when I’m too old to do it? People can look at me and know you don’t have to be perfect to impact someone’s life. I want others to be inspired because I’ve overcome adversity and made bad choices, but I never let it stop me. I grew from it, and now I want to be a bright light in my community. Not famous. Not popular. But valued. One day, when my life flashes before my eyes, I want to make sure it’s worth watching. I will never forget the mistakes I have made, and I will always remember the lessons I learned from them.”
Smith peeks into the future with both wonder and excitement. “I would love to see us build a closer-knit community that is inclusive of all walks of life. Shelbyville is a diverse town, and I’d love to see a way to bring us all together. I want a safe, small-town vibe but with things that help and benefit the community. I would love to see us one day have a big farm-to-table community supper downtown on the square. Most importantly, I hope the younger generations take ownership of this community and love it just like previous generations did.” GN
