Irene Sluss Smith

Irene (Sluss) Smith, age 91 of Church Hill, Tennessee, went to her eternal home with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on September 27, 2025.

Sister Irene was a faithful servant of the Lord for over 76 years. By grace, through her faith in Jesus Christ, she was saved on March 20, 1949. She was baptized by her father Charlie in the waters of Pound River and was accepted as member into the Cumberland/Pound River Church of the Brethren. Sister Irene was always ready to serve her family, neighbors and her church family when called upon. Her laugh could brighten your day and you could always count on Sister Irene’s prayers. She carried a bold, unapologetic testimony for Christ and she leaves a great testimony behind.

Irene was born to the late Rev. Charlie J. and Bessie (Willis) Sluss on January 10, 1934, and grew up on her parents rural farm on Mullins Ridge near Clintwood in Dickenson County, VA. She attended a 2-room grade school called Mountain View and attended Dickenson Memorial High School. Irene married the love of her life, the late Rev. Rufus Smith in 1949. Early in life she enjoyed working in the home interior decorating business, doing it professionally while her husband served in the United States Navy on the east coast. When her husband’s military service was over, they returned to Southwest Virginia and lived many years on Mullins Ridge near Clintwood, VA just down the road from her parents. Irene enjoyed gardening, sewing, ceramic art, working with the church youth and hosting tea parties for the neighborhood kids in which she made the best sandwiches.

Beginning in 1974 most of Irene’s time started revolving around the duties of being a pastor’s wife, which she took very seriously. Standing firmly by her husband’s side, she poured her heart out in service to the Lord and their congregations in several communities throughout the 32 years of Rufus’s pastorship at Pound River Church of the Brethren, French Broad Church of the Brethren, and Johnson City First Church of the Brethren (now Boone’s Creek Covenant Brethren), where she last held her membership. Sister Irene was always on standby and well put together anytime a person called or showed up at their door (day or night) for prayer, pastoral counseling or to hold a spontaneous wedding ceremony right in their living room!

In addition to her parents and husband, Irene was preceded in death by her brothers Afton Sluss, Cline Sluss (Jerline), her sister Norma Mullins (Garland), brother-in-law Bill Mullins, father-in-law and mother-in-law R. Hobert and Mona Smith.

Irene is survived by one sister Trula Mullins, adopted daughter in Christ, Tincy Hawkins and her family, nephews Connie (Idella) Mullins, Teddy (Anna) Mullins, great niece Summer Runyon, all of Clintwood, VA, and by other nephews, nieces, and cousins.

The family would like to expression a great amount of gratitude to Tincy (David) Hawkins and her family, and Irene’s neighbors Terry Hart and Billie Britton for their involvement in Irene’s well-being and care over the years. The family would also like to thank all the doctors, caregivers, and staff that contributed to her care along with Katie and the Morris-Baker Funeral Home staff.

Family and friends are invited to gather for a graveside service to celebrate Irene’s life at Boone’s Creek Church cemetery on Monday, October 6, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. with Brother Scott Kinnick officiating. In lieu of flowers you can make a donation in Irene’s memory to a ministry that was dear to her heart, Samaritan’s Purse: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/donate-online/.

Memories and condolences may be shared via www.morrisbaker.com

Morris-Baker Funeral Home, 2001 E Oakland Ave, Johnson City, is honored to serve the Smith family. (423) 282-1521