Funeral services will be conducted Sunday afternoon, October 5, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. from the chapel of the Taylor Funeral Home. Pastor Dennis Bailey will officiate. Visitation will be on Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and on Sunday beginning at 11:00 a.m. until service time. Place of rest will be in Memory Gardens in Hickman County. To view a livestream of the service on Sunday, please click Here. Refresh the page and click the link.
Carter’s family would like to invite you to dress very colorfully for his funeral to match his personality, anything Chiefs, Marvel, Predators, any Halloween costume, King Kong or Godzilla.
Those desiring, memorials are suggested to Stuart Burns Elementary School Library or a gift to offset end of life expenses.
Carter Franklin Lee Smith, age 10, also known as Tart- Tart, Carter Frank, Buggie the Boo and Feral Frank died September 29, 2025, at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.
Carter was born in Nashville, TN on May 4, 2015 and was a 5th grade student at Stuart Burns Elementary School. He is the son of Travis Lee Smith and Virginia Camille (Ginni) Dodson Smith.
Carter was a young man that never met a stranger, who loved his Lord and loved life. He truly lived life to the fullest every single day. He was wide open from the moment his feet hit the floor until he climbed into bed at night. Carter LOVED SO BIG, he could give you a hug that would literally make you smile from the inside out. If you were having a bad day, he would always offer you a special Carter Hug. He had such a contagious and loving personality. Carter loved unconditionally and unapologetically. He didn’t care who you were or anything else, he just loved you. He loved not only hugs but loved to snuggle and hated sleeping in his own bed. Carter made such an impact on those who knew him, in such a short time he was here on earth.
He loved football, he loved to read, especially the series of Wings of Fire, Five Nights at Freddy’s, and Anime Horror. He was a fan of the Nashville Predators, Kansas City Chiefs, King Kong and Jurassic Park. He was looking forward to trying out for football and basketball.
Carter was preceded in death by his sister, Everli Iris Faith Smith, his grandfathers, Cam “Poppy” Dodson and Tommy “Papaw” Smith.
Carter is survived by his loving family, his mother, Ginni Smith, his father, Travis Smith, his siblings, Jorja Forsberg (Kyle), Jaxen Stiltner, Gavin Brazzell and Grady Smith, his grandmothers, Robbie Dodson and Jeanine Smith, his uncle and aunt, Randy Smith and wife Cheryl, his niece and nephew Camryn and Beau Forsberg, many cousins and many friends.
39 Responses
Ginni, my heart goes out to you and your family during this difficult time. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
My heart goes out to sweet Carter’s family! He was an amazing little boy so full of life. We enjoyed him when he was at Centerville Elementary. Sending lots of love and prayers.
I remember when he ran out on the football field to say something to Eugene back when he was playing for Junior Pro Football. Eugene cried when we learned that it was your son and again we are so very sorry for your loss. Your son was such a sweet lovable kid and he will be missed. Sending prayers and hugs to you and your family.
Sending prayers for y’all.
Our heart ❤️ goes out to you and your family . You’re in our thoughts and prayers 🙏 The Clines (James and Melinda) will be praying 🙏 for you during this difficult time .
Heaven is brighter now. Love, Light & Peace.
So sorry for your loss. Prayers for you and your family.
I’m so very sorry for the pain you are having to endure. No one should ever have to bury their child. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
You all are in our thoughts and prayers! I am so sorry to hear what happen!
Our family is praying for yours. May God grant you peace only He can offer.
Many thoughts and prayers are with all family & friends!
My sincere condolences to all family members. I’ve yet to understand God’s plans or reasoning, not suppose to, but I without a doubt know he works things for the good. Lean not to our own understanding and trust in him. He called and angel home.
sending many prayers and love y’all’s way what a sweet loving young man
Mary Wesley story and family
Sorry for your lost if yall need anything let me know I work at tices springs
Thoughts and prayers to this young boys family and friends.
Our hearts are broken for all of you. This young man had the love of Jesus in him. We send all of our hugs and prayers to you all! May our God bring your family peace.
So sorry for your loss continued prayers to the family
Prayer goes out to Family and friends.So sorry for your loss.
I have never met any of your sweet family, but from the precious words of his obit, it sounds like he loved big and was a blessing to EVERYONE who had the pleasure of being in his joyful life. I pray God’s peace and strength as you navigate the days ahead. May the Lord hold you all.
Our heart goes out to the Smith family during this incredibly tough time. Though words can’t capture the depth of our sorrow, know that we’re sending you all our love, peace, and deepest condolences. You’re being held close in our thoughts and prayers. Matthew 11:28-30 🐝🙏🏻❤️
Carter was a sweet boy..we talked preds at lunch at school.
I was his monitor in the lunch room..prayers to his family
Sending prayers to Travis and his family for the loss of Carter. Keeping you in my thoughts.
So sorry for your loss
I am So So Sorry for Your Loss. I can’t even Imagine the Pain You All Are Feeling At This Time. You All Are In My Thoughts and Prayers. You can Call Me Anytime, Love Ya Always 💙🙏🏼
My thoughts and prayers are with you Travis
What a beautiful soul! Continued prayers for you and your wonderful family. May you feel Jesus presence with you so strongly.
Ms Robbie and family, we are so sorry for your great loss. Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers. May God bless you all in the difficult days ahead.
As I do not personally know Carter or your family, your family and Carters story has reached me in Colorado from a friend who kids live just outside Dickson. I just wanted to offer my condolences and to pray Numbers 6:24-26, as well as Proverbs 3:6.
My heart breaks for you all. Frickled face little Carter with a beautiful smile you will be missed.We will never know God had his reason so sorry.
To the family of Carter Smith, May God in His infinite love and grace will comfort and sustain and hold you in His loving arms now and in the days ahead. In Christ, Holly and Nancy Henthorne
I’m so sorry for you and your family Travis. By what I read Carter was a wonderful person. I only know Travis and never met his family, but know how Travis was/is – I know his young man was an awesome person/young man/and a fantastic kid. Reading this shows the LOVE this young kid had in his heart and the LOVE that surrounded him. Gone way too soon. May GOD be with you and your family. May GOD bring peace to all the new Carter. May GOD also Bless you all.
Christian Motorcyclists Association’s Cornerstone Riders extends our sincerest condolences and praying that the family may rest in the peace of The Prince of Peace. We are honored to escort Carter to his final resting place.
I was saddened to hear about the loss of Feral Frank. He brought me many laughs while I was grieving the loss of my husband. I was blessed to have known him. My prayers are with you Ginni and Travis.
In deepest sympathy,
Allison Phillips Miller
So sorry for your loss.Prayers for your family.
I love you Jeanine. I’m so sorry to hear about this tragedy of your grandson, Carter.
May the Lord give the family comfort and peace at this time.
RIP little guy!🙏🤍
I love you Jeanine. I’m so sorry to hear about this tragedy of your grandson, Carter.
May the Lord give the family comfort and peace at this time.
RIP little guy!🙏🤍
Carter, sweet smiling Carter…don’t you rest in peace, you just smile even wider. May we be like Carter.
my name is James Woodard and i myself was watching news channel 4 today WSMV Nashville, Tennessee television news cast at miday on Monday, October 6, 2025 and do not even know this young man that well and hes brought a ray of sunshine from Heaven with a smile that is truly worth a million dollars and i can only imagine how heart felt his family is going through with the loss of there son so i would like to say God bless
the m other and father and all the family of Carter Lee Franklin Smith of Dickson, Tennessee.
John 3:16- For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
Carter was like a bother he was so funny and love to see me at school-from Carters best friends in his class group Reed new leader former vice leader with Carter Noah new vice leader former helper and new helpers Ambrose, Keyon and dalton we remember Carter and his true leadership which made an amazing impact on our lives.