Lee Roy Smith II

Published 1:05 pm Monday, March 17, 2025

Nov. 11, 1954 – March 13, 2025

Lee Roy Smith II, 70 years old, passed from this earthly life, on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at King’s Daughters Hospital in Brookhaven. Lee Roy was born on Nov. 11, 1954, in Baton Rouge, LA. He spent his childhood and teenage years growing up in Gloster, MS. He graduated high school from Pine Hills Academy in 1972. In 1988, he enlisted in the Army National Guard at the age of 34 years old. In Sept. of 1990 he served with 162nd Military Police Company in Operation Desert Shield/Storm. Later in 1993, he was Soldier of the Year for the Second U.S. Army Forces command Army National Guard, where his picture hung in the Pentagon for a year. He attended and graduated from Copiah Lincoln Community College with an associate degree in the field of Respiratory Care. Later he became a Neonatal-Pediatrics Specialist in Respiratory Care, he would go on with his career teaching Respiratory Care and being the Clinical Director at Colin for seven years. Lee Roy was a lifelong Isshinryu martial artist, an accomplished woodcarver, worker for MS-Lou Relay for Life, where he came to be known as “Relay Roy.” He loved people, telling stories and talking about his beloved LSU Tigers. Lee Roy attended and was a member of the Vidalia Church of Christ. He was a Christian who loved to tell others about the Lord, taught the Ladies Bible Class for over five years, and would fill in to preach at Worship Service and teach Bible class when called upon. One of his favorite verses was 2 Timothy 1:12, “That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”

He is preceded in death by his parents, Lee Roy and Wanzie Pickett Smith; sister, Sandra Smith Townsend; brother-in-law, Melvin Townsend, and one nephew, David Townsend.

He is survived by his best friend and the love of his life, his wife of 16 years, Jackie Calcote Smith; his in-laws whom he considered his second parents, Charles and Beverly Calcote; one daughter, Amber Smith Savant (Heath); three sons, Lee Roy Smith III (Megan), Chase Bennett Smith (Lacey), James Connor Smith (Miranda) and nine grandchildren.

At Lee Roy’s request, he chose to be cremated, and he wished for no celebration of life service. His family has chosen to honor his wishes.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Research Hospital, Tunica Humane Society, or a charity of your choice.