Marita Smith Sexton

She was preceded in death by her parents Dr. Kenneth B. and Thelma Slifer, her first husband V. Gene Smith, and her second husband Carl Eugene Sexton.

Marita is survived by her daughter Gina Lynn Gallup (Stephen) and her step-children Carla Jeanne Guilfoyle (Terry), Jeffrey Alan Sexton (Michele), Carolyn Rae Horjus (Pete), and Marilyn Kay Johnson (Kenric), as well as many step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A lifelong educator, Marita saw teaching as a calling. She taught English for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools for over 20 years before moving to Cincinnati, Ohio. There, she was introduced to vocational education, which aligned with her desire and ability to teach the student rather than the material. Marita was known for being the students’ advocate and an innovator in the classroom, which served her well in vocational education. When she moved back to Nashville, Tenn., she taught vocational English and pushed to create a learning laboratory to ensure students’ success in both vocational and academic classes. Her proposal was accepted, and she set up the Vocational Support Center (VSC), which became the Educational Enhancement Center (EEC). The program became a model for high schools across the state of Tennessee and beyond.

Marita chaired multiple committees and clubs, wrote curriculum, and spoke at numerous conferences. She received the Sam McClanahan Award in 1993, the Tennessee Vocational Association Special Needs Division Teacher of the Year in 1994, the Tennessee Vocational Association’s Overall Vocational Teacher of the Year in 1994, the American Vocational Association’s Regional Vocational Teacher of the Year in 1994, and the American Teacher Award’s National Vocational Teacher of the Year in 1995.

After retiring from teaching, Marita worked with Metro Nashville Schools’ Exemplary Educators Program, which gave her the opportunity to help teachers become more effective and successful in the classroom.

Even more than she loved teaching, Marita loved the Lord. She knew that she had been saved by the blood of Jesus, and she wanted everyone to know her God. She put her teaching and coordination skills to use in the church teaching Sunday School and discipleship classes, leading women’s ministries, serving on the church board, and being involved in choir and worship ministries.

A naturally social person, Marita had the ability to make everyone feel special and loved. From entertaining big groups in her home to intimate one-on-one conversations, she was a good listener, inviting, perceptive, and caring. A devoted wife and mother, she loved her family and friends fiercely, and her life reflected the love and grace of her Lord Jesus. She will be dearly missed.

A visitation for Marita will be held Sunday, October 30, 2022 from 2–3 pm at Nashville First Church of the Nazarene, 510 Woodland St., Nashville, TN 37206, followed by a Celebration of Life service at 3 pm. All are welcome to attend. The service will also be live-streamed, accessible by clicking “Watch” at nfcn.org.

In honor of Marita Smith Sexton, donations may be made to Worship Ministries, Nashville First Church of the Nazarene, 510 Woodland St., Nashville, TN 37206.