Oct. 24, 1952 – April 17, 2017

FERRIDAY — Services for Rodney L. Smith, 64, of Ferriday, who died Monday, April 17, 2017, in New Orleans, will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Young’s Funeral Home Chapel in Ferriday with the Rev. Don Steele, the Rev. Junior Trisler and the Rev. Walter Mallard officiating.
Burial will follow at Wilbanks Cemetery in Jena, La., under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Mr. Smith was born Oct. 24, 1952, in Jena, the son of Lawrence and Vera Smith.
He was employed by Concordia Parish Police Jury for a number of years before being elected to the police jury, of which he also served as president. He later worked for Flowers Baking Company and managed Kaye’s Food Market in Ferriday.
Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his mother; maternal grandparents, Roy and Viva Roark; paternal grandparents, Dewey and Velma Smith; and one brother-in-law, Elbert McAllister.
Survivors include his loving and caring wife of 41 years, Gail M. Smith; two daughters, Tamie McGowen and fiancé, Will Core, of Hammond, La., and Rebekah Moore and husband, Kelly, of Ferriday; one grandson, Jaxson Moore (PaPaw’s little buddy) of Ferriday; his father of Ferriday; one sister, Debbie McAllister of Ferriday; and a number of family and friends.
Pallbearers will be Steve Mallard, Ivan Hedrick, Rodney McGowen, Dale Roark Jr., Darren McAllister, Kelly Moore, Richard Marks, Curtis Smith and Ben Steele.
Honorary pallbearers will be Jesse Parker, Dwain Roark, Kenneth Hedrick, Joe Boykin, Will Core, Billy Joe Ratcliff and Pervon Paul.
Online condolences may be sent to youngsfh.com.