SMITH, HELEN ELIZABETH (BETSY), DR. – Age 86 of Vero Beach, FL and formerly of Knoxville, Tennessee passed away peacefully June 22, 2026 in Vero Beach, FL. She was the daughter of the late Dr. Clarence and Mrs. Roberta Hoffmann. 

Betsy was a previous long-time member of Central Baptist Church of Bearden in Knoxville, TN and a member of First Baptist Church of Vero Beach since 2016.

 She received her Bachelor of Nursing and doctorate in human development from the University of Maryland. In between, she received a Master of Public Health and a Master of Nursing from the University of Tennessee. After some hospital nursing experience, Betsy became a public health nurse in Maryland. Being in the community was her true calling. After moving to Tennessee, she primarily taught community health at the University of Tennessee College of Nursing and was promoted to being the coordinator. She was also one of ten people awarded a scholarship from Johnson and Johnson to become a pediatric practitioner.

 In her retirement, she enjoyed gardening, reading, puzzles, coloring, watching sports as an avid Volunteer fan and being with friends and family.

 Betsy was also preceded in death by her loving husband Sherman Smith and her son Todd Overton.

 She is survived by her devoted daughter and husband Terri and Brent Walters, her sister Mary Stoffer, her stepdaughter and husband Shari and Gregg Goodwin, grandchildren Bradley Rose, Zachary Overton, Jeffery Goodwin, Timothy Goodwin, Kevin Goodwin and Jennifer Goodwin and seven great grandchildren, as well as, two nieces, their husbands and children. 

The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the American Cancer Society. 

The family will receive friends from 11 am to 12 pm on Thursday, July 2, 2026, at Cox-Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home, 1950 20th St., Vero Beach FL, with a service immediately following.

An online guestbook is available at CoxGiffordSeawinds.com