Mr. Smith was born May 22, 1931, in Bartow County, the son of the late John Paul Smith and Lena Hite Smith, and was a member of Emerson Baptist Church.
He was retired from Enterprise Oil Company after 53 years service; was a U.S. Army veteran, having served in the Korean Conflict; was a councilman for the city of Emerson; a member of the Emerson Volunteer Fire Department; was a volunteer sheriff in Emerson and a member of the Emerson Civil Defense.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Michael E. Smith; and several brothers.
Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Genell C. Smith of Emerson; children, Cheryl and Darrell Black of Lithia Springs, Anthony and Kelly Smith of Charlotte, N.C.; daughter-in-law, Jan Smith of Emerson; grandchildren, Brandon Hughes, D.J. Black, Taylor and Brittany Smith, Kristen Steel, Amanda and Eric Smith; great-grandchildren, Mason and Aiden Hughes; brothers and sisters-in-law, Ronald and Sharon Smith of Dallas, Ore., John and Louise Rampley of Emerson; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Monday, Sept. 20, at 3 p.m. in the chapel of Owen Funeral Home with the Rev. Morris Bearden and Brother Larry Cordell officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memory Gardens with Vann Chappell officiating.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m.
Pallbearers will be D.J. Black, Brandon Hughes, Eric Smith, Jeff Cordell, Todd Cordell and Vann Chappell.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Clarence Stephens, Truman McCollum, Skid Johnsey, Chris Jarrett, Darrell Black, Donovan Shook, Bill Popham and Marvin Cordell.
Please visit www.owenfunerals.com to post tributes and sign the online guestbook.
Owen Funeral Home, 12 Collins Drive, Cartersville, Ga., is in charge of the arrangements.