Participants in the Clark Memorial UMC mid-day, midweek services celebrated a special birthday with Dorothy Smith on April 26. Smith, who is also a regular participant of the mid-day, mid week service turned 97 years old on April 30.

Ms. Smith was most happy and surprised to celebrate with her church ‘family.’

“When you get so old and everyone else has gone on,” she said, “I’m glad that ya’ll are my family. Clark members are my family, and I love my family.”

Ms. Smith is the oldest member of Clark Memorial UMC. She was one of the ushers who walked from the previous location during the relocation to North Nashville, worshipping in temporary quarters loaned by the Seventh Day Adventist Church on the corner of Meharry Boulevard and 12th Ave. N. On Palm Sunday, 1945, the congregation marched joyfully and prayerfully from these loaned quarters to its present home on the corner of Phillips and 4th Ave. N. to the current location at 1014 14th Ave. N.

At her celebration, Ms. Smith mentioned that of all the pastors serving at Clark (approximately 16) she has been with all of them with the exception of the first two.

“I have seen some things as I have been with everyone of the pastors,” she said.

She served as a doorkeeper [usher] for many years. She continues to attend regularly on Sundays and Wednesdays. She is an advocate in leading the recognition of members during the Wednesday Mid-Week Mid -Day service that meets every Wednesday at noon for a worship service from 12-12:30 pm and a fellowship meal from 12:30-1 pm.

A few in attendance that day had lunch with Ms. Smith at Rev. Frank Allen’s diner. It was there that she received a few small gifts that included flowers, a trinket box in the form of a slice of birthday cake, a delicious birthday cake, and a signed card with money. Ms. Smith opened her card and said: “Let’s go shopping!”

Clark Memorial is currently under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Herbert L. Lester, Jr., senior pastor, and Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Williams, associate pastor.