JAMES WESLEY SMITH

 

Funeral for James Wesley Smith, 85 of Whitehouse was at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville with the Rev. Dr. Ray Davis, pastor of First Baptist Church Whitehouse and the Rev. Dr. Faulk Landrum officiating. Burial was in Resthaven Memorial Park.

Mr. Smith was born Dec. 27, 1923, in Winfield to Alfred and Ola Blackburn Smith. He graduated from Winfield High School and enlisted in the Army. He served in the Army during World War II from 1943-46 in the Philippine Liberation and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign. In April 1947 he married Margelene Covington.

He worked at Lone Star Steel in the payroll department for several years, was a store manager with Perry Brothers for 16 years, Discount City for nine years and he and his wife owned and operated The Diamond Shop in Jacksonville for 20 years.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith moved to Whitehouse in 2002 to be closer to their children and grandchildren. They attended First Baptist Church of Whitehouse.

He was a member in the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce. He and his wife were members of the Alpha Omega Sunday School class at First United Methodist in Jacksonville and the 20/40 Supper Club. He hosted a men's "Coffee Club" daily in the back of the Diamond Shop.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Margelene Smith; sons and daughters-in-law, Mike and Cindy, and Phil and Nancy of Whitehouse; grandsons, Eric and Spencer of Tyler, and Preston and Mason of Whitehouse.

Pallbearers were Eric Smith, Spencer Smith, Preston Smith, Jim Ingram, Mike Batis and Chan Campsey. Honorary Pallbearers were Mason Smith, Jake Narramore, R.L Westbrook, Berl Richardson, Ralph Crouch, Jerry Miller and Tony Cummings. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, 801 East Main, Whitehouse 75791

Information from The Cherokeean Herald