Helen Howington Smitherman, 77, of Oak Ridge, died Sunday evening, Nov. 1, 1998, at her home.

Mrs. Smitherman was a member of Glenwood Baptist Church and had taught the Friendship Sunday School class for many years. She was a homemaker.

She was born in Hughes Springs, Texas, on May 10, 1921. She was the daughter of Lizzie Belle Robinson Howington of Memphis and Lois Arthur Howington, who is deceased.

She and her husband, Orland C. Smitherman, who survives her, were married 53 years on the day she died.

In addition to her husband and her mother, Mrs. Smitherman is survived by her daughter, Ea Jo Smitherman of Oak Ridge; her brother, Lois Arthur Howington Jr. and his wife Glenda, of Memphis; and four sisters, Louise H. Broaddus and her husband Robert, of Punta Gordas, Fla., Ruby Lynn Munday and Clara Mae Terry and her husband Fred, all of Memphis, and Jannie Dixon and her husband James, of San Antonio, Texas.

A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at Glenwood Baptist Church with the Rev. Charles Clark officiating.

The family requests any memorials be in the form of donations to Glenwood Baptist Church, 200 S. Alabama Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830.

Weatherford Mortuary is handling arrangements.