Jim Smith, 79, of McComb and formerly of Tylertown, passed away Feb. 11, 2014, at Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center, under the care of St. Luke Home and Hospice, and with his family at his bedside.
Visitation is 5 to 8:30 tonight at Hartman-Sharkey Funeral Home in McComb and continues Thursday from 10 a.m. until services there at 11, with the Rev. Justin Knigh tand the Rev. Ed Sudduth officiating. Burial will be in Rushing Cemetery in Tylertown..
Mr. Smith was born Sept. 9, 1934, in Walthall County, the son of Hib and Mary Smith.
He graduated from Tylertown High School in 1953. Following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and retired with 20 years active duty military service. Following his retirement, he returned to Tylertown to pursue his college education. He began at Southwest Mississippi Community College and completed his bachelor of science in criminal justice at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.
During the 1970s, he served the citizens of Walthall County as deputy sheriff. He owned and operated a dairy farm, and also worked as the investigator for the 14th judicial district under District Attorney Dunn Lampton from 1981- 2001.
Jim cherished all of his time spent with family and friends. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed farming with his special friend James Stinson. He loved to cook and feed people. He had a giving spirit and never missed an opportunity to help someone. He will be missed by many.
Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Duke, Fred, John and Charles.
Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Janet Sullivan Smith; a daughter, Julie Shepherd and son-in-law Mark of McComb; his grandchildren, Clay Shepherd of Oxford, J.T.Shepherd and wife Lindsay Shepherd of Hattiesburg and Jacob Shepherd of McComb; two brothers, Wylie “Buddy” Smith and wife June of Tylertown and Albert “Butch” Smith and wife Peggy of Slidell, La., and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Pallbearers will be Jesse Thompson, Troy Travis, Jerry Rushing, Bruce Fairburn, John Martin and Lynn Boyte. Honorary pallbearers will be James Stinson and deputies of the Pike County Sheriff’s Department.
Share condolences at hartman-sharkeyfuneralhome.com.
