Funeral services for James T. Smith are to be held on Saturday, March 25 in the Travelers Rest M. B. Church at 11 a.m. with Bishop Bobby L. McCarter, Sr. officiating; interment shall follow in the Cedar Hill Cemetery under the direction of W. H. Jefferson Funeral Home. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 24 in the funeral home from 5 to 6 p.m. 

James T. Smith passed away on Monday, March 20 in the University Medical Center following a brief illness. He was 81. He was retired from International Paper Co. and had attended Mt. Olive M. B. Church. J.T. was born on August 15, 1941, to Wilson White and Everlyn Smith in Vicksburg, MS.

His education included St. Mary’s Catholic School and Rosa A. Temple High School where he played football. After graduating from high school, he worked various jobs including 13 years at Westinghouse Corporation in shipping and 25 years at International Paper Company as a crane operator.

In 1958 he married Annie Jo Robinson who preceded him in death, J.T. and Annie Jo went on to have five children, James Anthony, Yolanda, Dexter, Joseph and Kevin.  He later married Hattie L. Hill of Crawford, MS on March 28, 1985, and spent his last years with his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchild.  He was happy spending his life with family, and friends relaxing, gardening, fishing, grilling, and watching his favorite westerns and sports.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilson White and Evelyn Smith; his brothers, Robert Ellis, Walter Smith, and William Kelly; his son, Joseph Smith; a grandson, Jonathan Bruce and three great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife Hattie Smith of Vicksburg; his sons, James Anthony Smith, Dexter Deandre Smith of Vicksburg and Kevin (Barbara) Fitzgerald Smith of Lithonia, GA; two brothers, Tommy (Robbie) Davis of McComb, MS and James Fowler of Jackson, MS; a sister, Barbara Bulter of San Antonio, TX; 13 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and others.