Byron J. Smith

Byron J. Smith, 79, passed away at his home after a long illness under the care of Ogeechee Area Hospice on Friday, November 9, 2012.  Mr. Smith was born August 12, 1933 in LaFayette, Alabama.   A native of LaFayette, Alabama, he lived the last 44 years in Reidsville, Georgia.  Mr. Smith was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and community servant. He was employed by Floyd S Pike Electrical Contractors for 20 years and retired from Canoochee EMC in 1996.  He was a member and deacon of Friendship Baptist Church in Reidsville after serving as deacon at Reidsville Baptist Church.

He is preceded in death by his parents Lewis and Janie Smith, a sister, Clara Estes, and a brother, Charles Smith. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Iris Bishop Smith, and children, Byron Lamar Smith (Edie) of Reidsville, Susan Smith Young of Savannah, and James Steven Smith (Kim) of Claxton. His grandchildren include Taylor Byron Smith, Steven Edwards Smith, Ashton Langley Young, Alexis Kimberly Smith, and Hunter James Smith. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Mr. Smith served in the US Army during the Koran War and was stationed in Germany.

Mr. Smith was not only active in his church, but he was an active member of the Tattnall Evans Gideons Association. He was an active member of the Lions Club where he served as President and was the first member of the Reidsville Club to be honored with the Melvin Jones Fellow award for dedicated humanitarian services by the Lions Club International Foundation.   Mr. Smith was an active supporter of Pinewood Christian Academy from its inception where the football stadium lights were dedicated in his honor.   In 1997 he served as Grand Marshal of the Reidsville Christmas Parade.

Visitation will begin at 5 PM on Sunday, November 11, at Bradley B. Anderson Funeral Home, Reidsville Chapel. Funeral Services will be conducted at 11am on Monday, November 12, at the Reidsville Baptist Church with Reverends Paul Howard and H. Lamar Smith, cousins of Mr. Smith, officiating.  Interment will follow in the Mt. Carmel Church Cemetery. Honorary Pallbearers are deacons of Friendship Baptist Church and Reverend Wes Collins, pastor of Friendship Baptist Church. Honorary Pallbearers  also include members of the local Gideons  International  and members of the Reidsville Lions Club. Pallbearers include his sons, Lamar and Steve Smith, his grandchildren, Taylor, Steven, and Hunter Smith, and Ben Kennedy and Terry Carter.

Mr. Byron loved his church, his family and all children. He invested in people, spending many hours cooking for fund raising events, working with the Royal Ambassadors and cutting trees whenever he was needed. In his down time, he loved spending time with his cows on the farm.

In Lieu of Flowers, remembrances can be directed to Gideons International, Reidsville Camp, P.O. Box 403, Reidsville, Georgia 30453 ( www.gideons.org )  or Ogeechee Area Hospice, P.O. Box 531, Statesboro, Georgia   30459 ( www.ogeecheeareahospice.org )

Bradley B. Anderson Funeral Home, Reidsville Chapel  is serving the Smith family.   www.bradleybanderson.com