JAMES M. SMITH
May 8, 1924-Feb. 24, 2013
LAGRANGE -- The patriarch of the Smith family, Mr. James Morgan Smith, known as "Buddy," "Jim" or "James," 88, passed away peacefully in his sleep Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013.
James was born May 8, 1924, the son of James Henry "Jim" Smith and Elizabeth Ginn Smith.
The family relocated in Greene County when he was 2 years old, following the death of his father, and he resided on that same land until his death.
A master welder and pipe fitter, James worked at the shipyard in Virginia for a period of time prior to helping build the DuPont plant in Kinston, and eventually accepted employment within the plant.
James had many fond memories of his experiences at DuPont, and loved sharing his stories with family, friends and other DuPont retirees.
He shared his skill and knowledge of welding with others by teaching welding classes at Lenoir Community College in Kinston.
Following his formal retirement, James continued his lifelong joy of farming, raising cattle and operating his tractors until his health declined.
Graveside services will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, at the Smith Family Cemetery, located at the Smith farm and home place. The Rev. Debora Stilley, his sister-in-law, will officiate.
In addition to his parents, James was preceded in death by his first wife, Maryleen Hill Smith; sisters, Edna Smith and Mildred Smith; and a daughter, Sherry Lynn Smith.
His surviving family includes his wife, Sandra Ferrell Smith; sons, Donald Morgan Smith and wife, Linda, and James Jeffrey Smith and wife, Carol, all of LaGrange and Richard Lee Smith of Great Falls, S.C.; a daughter, Margaret Rose Smith and husband, Charles Jenkins, of Mountville, S.C.; nine grandchildren, Donna Amon of Goldsboro, Heather Smith and Lisa Smith of LaGrange, Mary Margaret Schmidt and Robert Matthew Schmidt of New York, Paige Smith of Clemson, S.C., Brantley Smith of Lancaster, S.C., and Creighton Smith and Emery Smith of Great Falls, S.C.; a stepgrandson, Thomas Woodard and wife, Christina, of Goldsboro; three great-grandchildren, James Morgan Tisdale and wife, Perla, of Eureka and Elizabeth Amon and John Michael Amon both of Snow Hill; two stepgreat-grandchildren, Summer Woodard and Holly Woodard both of Goldsboro; and a special nephew, Derald Morgan Smith and wife, June, of Goldsboro.
The family will receive friends Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Taylor-Tyson Funeral Service in Snow Hill and other times at the residence.
The family would like to extend its sincere thanks and appreciation to Community Hospice of Kinston, who provided assistance and care to James during his lengthy illness, and also to the staff of Silver Care, especially Kay Baker.
Online condolences may be made at www.taylor-tyson.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on February 26, 2013 1:48 PM