Vanessa loved the Dallas Cowboys, the Nashville Predators, and attended Titans football games and St. Louis Cardinal games with her dad. Vanessa loved her friends and family with all her heart and would give the shirt off her back when someone was down on their luck. She lived loud, proud and fearless. If there was a bonfire or a Jeep rally she was down for it. She lit up the room with her incredible smile and contagious laughter. She had an incredible work ethic and held others accountable to do their job. She was a single mom and role modeled how to do that with always being present whether it was volleyball or family movie night. Scary movies were always a favorite. As she co-parented with Cali's Dad, it was very important to her to ensure Cali spent plenty of time with her Dad.
Vanessa was preceded in death by her grandparents, Adlai and Velma Schmidt and Tom White; cousins, John Schmidt and Peter White; and second cousin, Jocelyn White.
Vanessa leaves behind her beloved daughter, Cali Brown; her brother, Corey Schmidt (Jio) of New Orleans; her father, Eddie Schmidt of Nashville; her mother, Cheryl Gibson of Farmville, Virginia; her grandmother, Verna White of Falls City, Nebraska; as well as uncles, aunts, and numerous cousins. She also leaves behind a huge tribe of well-loved friends.
There will be a Gathering of Family and Friends Friday, October 27, 2023 from 4:00 - 8:00pm at Hibbett and Hailey Funeral Home. A Celebration of Vanessa's Life will be held at 10:00am on Saturday, October 28th at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 3259 McGavock Pike, Nashville, TN. Following the service, Vanessa will be laid to rest in the Garden of Memories at Hermitage Memorial Gardens, 535 Shute Lane, Old Hickory, TN.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the Schmidt family at HibbettHaileyFH.com.
