Karen Hart Smith

Karen Hart Smith, 52, died on Jan. 12, 2022.

She was born on May 3, 1969, to Francis X. Hart and Barbara Ann Langenstein.

Karen graduated from Franklin County High School and Earlham College in Richmond, Ind., where she majored in psychology. She then received a master’s degree in social work from Tulane University. Karen worked for many years as a social worker in Mobile, Ala. and in Chattanooga. Raising a family in Cleveland with her husband, Darrell, made the stresses of such positions manageable.

Just before Christmas 2015, she suffered a traumatic brain injury. Since then, she has resided at Safehaven, a facility for persons with such an injury in Rock Spring, Ga., operated by the Jimmy Simpson Foundation.

Karen is survived by her husband, Darrell Smith; son, Matt; her parents; sisters: Colleen Hart and Bridget Griffith; as well as a nephew and three nieces.

A Remembrance of Life Service will be held at 5 p.m. today, Jan. 21, 2022, at Jim Rush Funeral and Cremation Services, Wildwood Avenue Chapel.

The family will receive friends from 3 until 5 p.m. today at the funeral home.

The interment will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. CST at the Eastern Star Cemetery in Sewanee, with a reception to follow at St. James Church in Midway.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Jimmy Simpson Foundation or the American Diabetes Association.