Community, friends hold memorial ride for Tabitha Smith

DECATUR, Tenn. (WDEF) – Almost a month ago, Meigs County Deputy Robert Leonard drove into the Tennessee river for unknown reasons.

Along with him in custody was Tabitha Smith as they both passed away.

Earlier today, the family of Smith and the Meigs County community came together for a memorial ride in honor of Tabitha Smith.

They began their route at the Decatur Boys and Girls Club.

A photo of Tabitha Smith, the woman who died when investigators say a Meigs County Deputy drove into the Tennessee River on the night of February 14, 2024.

The organizer of the ride, John Walsh said, “I just organized this ride because when this news first broke that Tabitha was in this with the deputy that I felt like her name, that she was left out, you know. Somebody is always a somebody. And I felt like her she was just as important as the deputy was.”

The route for the memorial ride went right passed the boat ramp just off Blythe Ferry Road where the police car was discovered.

Emotions ran high when they reached the site of the incident.

Walsh said, “We crossed the bridge you know, and I looked over where the ramp is to go down into the water and you know just kind of really thought you know how sad it was for both families that are grieving with a loss right now with what they must be going through.”

While he knew organizing a memorial ride for Tabitha would be a good place to start, he wants the Meigs County community to come together to help provide resources for those in need.

Walsh said, “I would like to make this a yearly thing maybe do something to donate to a maybe a rehab fund to maybe help get people off drugs with the rehab.”

He added that on March 23, they will be holding another memorial ride for the police officer Robert Leonard who tragically lost his life in the same accident.