William Russell Smith

Published 12:01 am Tuesday, November 3, 2015

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April 15, 1947 – Oct. 31, 2015

NATCHEZ — Services for William Russell “Billy” Smith, 68, of Natchez, who died Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015, at his residence, will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Laird Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Len McRaney and the Rev. Jeff Brewer officiating.

Burial will follow at the Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. until service time Wednesday, both at the funeral home.

Mr. Smith was born April 15, 1947, in Centreville, the son of Malcolm R. Smith and Bobbie Jean Haney Smith.

He attended Lovely Lane Methodist Church.

Billy served in the U.S. Air Force from 1966 to 1970 as a missile silo specialist. On June 4, 1966, he married his lifetime partner, Judy, a woman he met as a young man at a Natchez skating rink and whom he cherished his entire life.

Billy worked as an instrumentation electrician for International Paper, Natchez, for 22 years and then at Johnson Control, Canton, for another eight years. What Billy would want to be remembered for isn’t so much his employment, but for the life he lived. He was a loving husband, father and son and his kind and patient spirit made all who knew him love him. He was a helper and a giver and his thoughtful patience was evident to those around him and even reflected in his hobbies of woodworking and carpentry.

He was preceded in death by his father; one brother, Dicky Smith; father-in-law, Winfred McGehee; and one nephew, Mike Buckles.

Survivors include his wife, Judy McGehee Smith; one son, Russ Smith and wife, Kellie, of Jackson; one daughter, Kimberly Smith Gray and husband, Cal, of Petal; three grandchildren, Brianna Gray and Jonathan Gray, both of Petal, and Samantha Smith of Panama City, Fla.; one great-grandson, Brantley Farkash of Panama City; his mother, of Natchez; one sister, Patty Simmons and husband, David, of Natchez; three nephews, Brandon Smith, Jamie Keyes and wife, Kim, and Bennie Buckles, all of Natchez; one niece, Kristi Buckles of McCall Creek; two sisters-in-law, Patsy Hester and Diane Buckles of Natchez; two great-nephews, Chase and Cameron Buckles of McCall Creek; and mother-in-law, Jewell Carlock and husband, Kirby, of Natchez.

Pallbearers will be Brandon Smith, Jim Montgomery, Bill Beane, Chase Buckles, Kempe Thomas and Ervin Garrett.

Honorary pallbearers will be Robert M. Lea, Julius Cotton, Ivy Ray Thornton and Jamie Keyes.

Memorials may be made to the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society or to a charity of choice.

The family extends thanks to the staff at Natchez Oncology Clinic and Hospice Compassus for their help and support.

Billy will be deeply missed by his friends, family and all who knew him.

Online condolences may be sent to lairdfh.com.