Alberta "Dovey" Imogene (De lozier) Smith

Alberta Imogene (De Lozier) Smith was born on November 7, 1923 on a small farm in Bryson City, NC to loving parents, Jesse De Lozier and Virginia Patterson, one of two daughters and three sons. She was predeceased by her parents and all siblings.

Alberta had her share of challenges in life, which she often turned into opportunities. With a sharp wit and great sense of humor, she made it through decades of change in her nearly 96 years and boosted up many others along the way.

Alberta’s challenges started early. She was very close with her father whom she lost suddenly around the age of six. At the age of seven, Alberta contracted meningitis which had no treatment in 1930. She survived the affliction, however, was left profoundly Deaf from its affects. Alberta soon turned her new “handicap” into a lifetime of adventure, achievement and advocacy.

Alberta was sent to the residential North Carolina School for the Deaf (NCSD) where she learned American Sign Language and, by her own admission, emerged as a natural entertainer, otherwise known as the “class clown”. She graduated from NCSD in 1943, earned a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from Gallaudet University in 1950 and a Master of Science from the University of Tennessee in 1960.

Her professional career included teaching at the Illinois School for the Deaf and the Tennessee School for the Deaf where she climbed the ladder from teacher to Supervising Teacher to the first Deaf woman Principal in the country.

For over 40 years, Alberta advocated for equal access and the advancement of Deaf and Hard of Hearing people through education, activism and legislation. She chaired the committee of the Tennessee Public Service Commission that passed legislation to reduce long distance rates for the Deaf, Chaired the Knoxville Area Communication Center for the Deaf board of directors, Vice-chaired the Tennessee Council for the Hearing Impaired, served on the Knoxville Mayor’s Council for the Handicapped and Elderly, and was a board member of Quota Club of Knoxville for decades.

Over the years, she earned honors such as, Teacher of the Year and Handicapped Professional Woman of the Year. In 1979, she received distinctive recognition for outstanding service, leadership and achievements as the Quota Club International Deaf Woman of the Year and was flown to Sydney, Australia to accept her award.

In addition to her work and community service, Alberta pursued many passions. She loved traveling (visiting over 12 countries and 50 states), dining experiences of all kinds, watching sports (especially the Vols, Braves and anything her grandkids played), doing crossword puzzles, drinking black coffee and red wine, and making people laugh every day of her life. She even starred in her own PBS comedy show in the early 1970’s.

Above all else, Alberta dearly loved and was truly devoted to her children, Misty, Weldon (Sally), Carolene (Hal) and Margie (Sean), her 16 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren, all of whom love her very much and will miss her jokes, laughs and hugs.

A wall hanging found in Alberta’s room read, “The Best things in life are not things”. This quote epitomizes how she lived her life. She worked hard to earn experiences, adventures and connections with people, not to accumulate things.

The family would like to express sincere appreciation to the loving staff and owners of Freedom Senior Living Center for caring so much for Alberta in her final three years.

A Visitation will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2019 from 12:00-2:00 PM in the Chapel of Berry Funeral Home with a Celebration of Life Service to follow.

Condolences may be expressed at www.berryfuneralhome.com