Jerry Lenell Smith

Published 12:01 am Tuesday, December 6, 2016

July 2, 1940 – Dec. 1, 2016

NATCHEZ — Services for Jerry Lenell Smith, 76, of Hendersonville, Tenn., formerly of Natchez, who died and received his heavenly reward Dec. 1, 2016, when he met his Father after a lengthy, courageous battle with cancer, will be 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at Laird Funeral Home Chapel.

Burial will follow at the Natchez National Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 11:30 a.m. until service time Wednesday at the funeral home.

Mr. Smith was born on July 2, 1940, in Springhill, La., the son of Nathan and Freida Walker Smith.

He was a 1958 graduate of Franklinton High School and a 1986 graduate of Copiah-Lincoln Vocational School. After 32 years of service, Jerry retired from the U.S. Navy. He earned the rank of chief petty officer and was extremely proud of his Naval service where he gained a number of friends.

In 1996, he retired from Pirelli-Armstrong Tire Company. However, he went on to work for Werner Enterprises of Scottsville, Ky., delivering merchandise for Dollar General until 2005. He volunteered at First Baptist Church-Hendersonville, where he was a member since 1988. In his volunteer roles he served as a church bus driver, member of the hospital visitation team, and faithfully made sure coffee was prepared for Sunday services for a number of years until his failing health prevented him from doing so. Many souls benefitted from the caffeine, and who knows … they may be closer to the Lord for having been awake and alert for service and Sunday school.

Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his father; one brother, Otto Allen Smith; grandparents, Fleet and Jewitt Walker and Alonzo and Maggie Smith; and son-in-law, Douglas Alan Dooley Sr.

Survivors include his loving wife of 57 years, Margie Saucier Smith; one daughter, Laureida Smith Dooley; one grandson, Douglas Alan Dooley Jr.; chosen son, Tim Ramey and wife, Sheri; his mother; one sister, Carolyn White and husband, Robert; one brother, Larry Smith and wife, Maureen; a number of nieces and nephews; and many treasured friends.

Because of the flower restrictions, please make donations to the Coffee Fund, First Baptist Church-Hendersonville, 106 Bluegrass Commons Blvd., Hendersonville, TN 37075.

Online condolences may be sent to lairdfh.com.