Thelma "Louise" Kent Smith Brigman, 96, entered into her heavenly home, safe in the arms of Jesus on Monday, January 27, 2025, in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Louise was born on December 27, 1928, "out on Little Pine" in Madison County, North Carolina to Robert Wade Kent and Zora Louise Payne Kent. Louise loved living in Marshall for her first 85 years, before moving to Simpsonville, South Carolina to be with her daughter and son-in-law. She wanted to be near the absolute loves of her life, her 4 great-grandchildren children: Olivia Lee Shupe, Sloan Thomas Shupe, Hannah Louise Shupe and Pierce Edward Shupe. The children kept her happy, strong and holding onto life, so she could watch them grow and enjoy every minute of time she could with them. They kept her young. The love the children have for their Nana is immeasurable. She lovingly spoiled them and each of them knew without question, they could go to their Nana about anything and she would always be their biggest supporter. Nana was a wonderful cook and the children called her macaroni and cheese, "pots of gold". Louise also made the best german chocolate cake, her daughter's favorite. Louise kept an immaculate home and believed in the "everything has a place and everything in it's place", homemaker rule. You could drop by her home at anytime and you would be welcomed and offered a meal.

The children moved to Kentucky, and it wasn't long until Louise moved to Kentucky with her daughter and son-in-law, where she lived the last 5 years of her life.

Louise was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband, Howard Calvin Smith, of 32 years and her 2nd husband of almost 20 years, John Knox Brigman, Sr., her siblings, Ralph Kent, Merle Payne, Evelyn Yarber, Gladys Worley, Agnes Jean Sipracki, Mary Lee Johnson, and infant Faye Kent.

Louise leaves behind to cherish her memory her loving daughter, Tammie Lee Shupe, whom was the light of her world and her husband Thomas E. Shupe, whom she loved like a son, her granddaughter and namesake Rachel Louise Shupe, whom she loved immensely and was thrilled when she arrived with dark hair and blue eyes and her husband Scott E. Tousley, and her four great-grandchildren: Olivia Lee, Sloan Thomas, Hannah Louise, and Pierce Edward, all of Bowling Green, Kentucky and her baby sister Waydean Kent Lisenbee of Marshall, NC, whom she cherished and several nieces and nephews she dearly loved.

Louise's service will be at Blue Ridge Funeral Service, 7626 NC Highway 213, Mars Hill, NC 28754, on Sunday, February 02, at 3 pm with the Reverend Charlie Stanton officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the start of the service. Burial will follow at Madison Seminary Baptist Church Cemetery, 1828 Highway 213, Marshall, NC. Greg Lisenbee, Mark Lisenbee, Will Letterman, Scott Tousley, Sloan Shupe, and Pierce Shupe-Tousley will serve as pallbearers.

Memorials may be made to Madison Seminary Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, PO Box 1029, Marshall, NC 28753, in memory of Louise Smith Brigman. Flowers are also welcome.

The family would like to thank the members of Madison Seminary Baptist Church for their love and care during this time.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org