Mr. James A. “Jimmy” Smith, age 86, of Davisboro peacefully passed away on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at the Washington County Regional Medical Center Extended Care Facility following a brief illness. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, October 1st at 2:00 P.M. in the May and Smith Funeral Home Chapel with burial in Davisboro City Cemetery. Reverend Danny Thomas and Reverend Fred Garrett will officiate. Ashley Bridges will serve as Special Guest Speaker. Pallbearers will be Doug Watkins, Christopher Bridges, Holden Yarbrough, Joseph “Trent” Brown, Ashley Bridges, and Connor Cowart. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 1:00 P.M. until the hour of the service at the May and Smith Funeral Home of Sandersville.
Mr. Smith was a native of Washington County, the son of the late Floyd Wright Smith, Sr. and the late Mary Sammons Smith. Having no children of his own, he was adored as a loving uncle, treating his nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews as his own children and affectionately referred to as “Jimbo,” “Bimbo,” “Jabo,” and simply “Uncle” by them. Mr. Smith was an avid fisherman known for using a leaf-spring truck part to rally worms for bait. His favorite meals would always include black-eyed peas and “chaw,” his chewing tobacco, for “dessert.” Jimmy will be fondly remembered for never meeting a stranger and for how he would kindly speak to all. Mr. Smith was a devoted son and brother, serving as caregiver for his father and assisting with the care of his sister at her home in the evenings during her time of need. He worked as a farmer’s hand from the age of 12 until retirement at the age of 79. Jimmy was preceded in death by his brothers, Floyd Wright Smith, Jr., John R. Smith, and Frankie Smith; sisters, Sally Bragg and husband George, Rosa Smith and husband Carl, Annie Smith and husband Grover, Louise Bridges and husband Jewell, and Martha Jean Stubbs; nephew, Wayne Tapley; and great-nephew, Gregg Bridges.
Survivors include his brother; Louis Smith and wife Kay of Sandersville; sister, Lois Johnson and husband Billy of Gibson; brother-in-law, Richard Stubbs of Panama City, Florida; nieces and nephews; Larry Bridges and wife Laverne of Sandersville, Connie Bridges Tapley of Sandersville, John Bridges and wife Teresa of Sandersville, and Gary “Hoss” Bridges and wife Patti of Tennille; great-nieces and great-nephews; Angela Yarbrough and husband Travis, Michae Edwards and husband Josh, Jada Bridges, William Tapley and wife Laura, Alicia Monroy and husband Roberto, Danielle Bridges and husband Jamie, Ashley Bridges and wife Jessica, Leigh Anna Zaenglein and husband John David; great-great nieces and great-great-nephews, Linda Holata and husband Kevin, Christopher Bridges and wife Taylor, Holden Yarbrough, Joseph “Trent” Brown and wife Haley, Carmen Rodriguez, and Connor Cowart; and many other family members and friends.
Donations may be made to the Washington County High School Future Farmers of America, c/o Washington County High School, P.O. Box 1057, Sandersville, Georgia 31082 or The Methodist Home for Children & Youth, 304 Pierce Avenue, Macon Georgia 31204.
Online condolences may be expressed at mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com.
May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.