Well-known local portrait artist, art teacher and antiques dealer, dies at age 95.

Jimmye Lou Shaw Smith, born Aug. 15, 1929, passed away peacefully Feb. 9, 2025. The daughter of the late James T. and Lucy Mabel Shaw, she was predeceased by her sisters, Elynor Shaw Bellenfant and Nell Shaw Wilson, and by her beloved husband of 50 years, Frank Owings Smith.

A woman of many achievements, nothing was more important to Jimmye than family. She is survived by her loving family composed of her children and their spouses, Lucy Smith Ballou (Tab, predeceased) and Frank Owings Smith,Jr. (Donna); her three grandchildren, Ashley Ballou Norvell (Brent), Elliot Ballou, and Jake Warren Smith; along with her three great grandchildren, Carter Norvell, Jonathan Norvell and Natalie Norvell. “Mimi” will be missed by all her grandchildren as well as her many nieces and nephews who were a large part of her life.

Jimmye grew up on the Shaw family farm outside Chapel Hill, in a house without electricity and water until she reached the age of five. She and her sisters were no strangers to hard work on the farm. Always driven, Jimmye starred in basketball for Forrest High School in Chapel Hill before attending Peabody College where she studied for a degree in Fine Arts. While at Peabody she met the love of her life, Frank Owings Smith, who was attending Vanderbilt University School of Engineering, having served as Lieutenant in the Air Force. They were married December 27, 1948 until Frank’s passing in 1999.

After graduation, Jimmye and Frank moved to Tullahoma where Frank was employed as an engineer at AEDC by Sverdrup Engineering. Jimmye completed her Master’s degree in Art and Art history at MTSU and began her career as a portrait artist.

Jimmye painted hundreds of portraits and taught art at Tullahoma High School for over 15 years. She enjoyed helping her students nurture a love of art and was very proud of her many students that went on to become professional artists. Her summers were always a time to pursue her joy of travel jetting off to all corners of the globe with Frank, her close friend, Betty Jean, and many members of her family. She travelled all of Europe, Asia, Russia, South America and Antarctica. Jimmye always professed that no one could take away the knowledge and experiences of travel. She was a fearless, determined individual and in 2005 when terrorists bombed Egypt just before her scheduled trip, she insisted on going on her tour although it was the only tour operating after the attack.

Jimmye and her husband later operated Tullahoma Art and Antiques for many years where she continued her lifelong pursuit of antiques and fine art. Jimmye was very generous with her time managing the Tullahoma Fine Arts Center, decorating the Tullahoma Senior Center, and as a member of the Red Hat Society and the United Methodist Church. Jimmye led an incredible life filled with love of art, love of her family, and love for her many friends and students.

The family is planning a celebration of life to be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please give to the Tullahoma Fine Arts Center.

Tullahoma News – Feb. 16, 2025