James Smith

Saltillo- James Arlen Smith, 76, died Friday, August 8, 2008, at The North Mississippi Medical Center after an extended illness. A native of Mississippi, he was born April 4, 1932, to William Lewis and Zadie McKissick Smith. During the Korean Conflict, he served in the U.S. Army as a gunner. He retired as a mechanic from the Mississippi Agricultural Experiment Station in Verona. He was previously a member of Grace Memorial Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and was currently a member of Longview Baptist Church. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed fishing and woodworking and the time he spent with his children and grandchildren.

Services will be 2 p.m. Sunday at The Saltillo Chapel of W.E. Pegues with Rev. Doug Wilson and Rev. Jimmy Russell officiating. Burial with military honors will be in Longview Cemetery.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Sarah Frost Smith of Saltillo; four daughters, Deborah Grisham (Jammie) of Baldwyn, Patti Brown (Roy) of Mantachie, Tammy Wilson (Robert) of Mantachie, and Judy Pilkinton (Kenneth) of Lawrenceburg, Tenn.; two sons, James Michael Smith of Tupelo and Chuck Smith (Christina) of Saltillo; four sisters, Louise Maloof of Washington, Ga., Emily Lamons (David) of Tupelo, Evelyn Pannel of Baldwyn, and Mae DeMuse (Wayne) of Washington, Ga.; three brothers, Kenneth Smith (Evelyn) of Crystal Springs, Fla., Doug Smith (Margaret) of Plantersville, and Tommy Smith (Dora) of Pontotoc; 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; a host of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Jimmy Arlen Smith; a great-granddaughter, Bailey L. Farris; and a brother, Charles William Smith.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Corey Matthews, Tim Brown, Chris Brown, Josh Smith, Taylor Smith, Cody Wilson, Ben Wallace, Doug Wallce, Ethan Wallace, and Chris Farris.

Visitation will be 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Saltillo funeral home.