Opal Plunk Smith Corsaw
February 23, 1930 – October 06, 2019
Opal Plunk Smith Corsaw was born February 23, 1930 in Dyersburg, TN, the eldest of five children, to Ira and Rubye Plunk. She married Harry P Smith in November 1947, and continued high school until her mother was confined to East Tennessee Tuberculosis hospital for treatment. At that time she dropped out of school and she and Harry moved into her father's home so she could care for her two youngest siblings. They were blessed with two children. A daughter, Sherry, was born in 1948 and a son, Larry, arrived in 1950. A stillborn daughter, Ruth Diane was born in 1961. Jack Gibson, a foster son, came to live with them in 1967. Sadly, Jack passed away on December 28, 2006.
Determined to follow her dream of becoming a school teacher, when her daughter, Sherry, began first grade, she returned to high school in 1954 and earned a college scholarship upon graduation in 1957. Unfortunately, her own illness of tuberculosis, followed by cancer, once again thwarted her educational plans. Without losing faith or her dream, in May 1968, she completed her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and began her teaching career at Jennie Bell School in Dyersburg that fall. After becoming a grandmother, she commuted to the University of Tennessee, Martin, to complete her Master's in Education in 1972 and continued her teaching career in Dyersburg until the summer 1983. She stated she never taught a bad student; there were just some who needed more love, patience and understanding. Living this motto led her to becoming Tennessee State Teacher of the Year. She moved to Oklahoma in the mid 1980's and earned her second Master's Degree in Psychology while teaching at Metro Christian Academy. After graduation at ORU, she began work at Dayspring Villa, a Tulsa Baptist women's shelter, where she counseled with homeless and battered women until her retirement at age 79. While serving at Dayspring, she introduced a plan to teach the women how to set and obtain goals for the dreams that seemed unattainable in their lives. Many who came there homeless left to complete college degrees and to lead successful lives. During her 15 years at Dayspring, she led over 300 women and children to the Lord.
Dyersburg Funeral Home
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