Ray A. Smith

Ray A. Smith, age 82, of West Columbia, South Carolina passed away on Tuesday, January 30, 2024. He was born in Columbia, South Carolina on April 30, 1941 to Annie Bouknight Smith and George Bell Smith.

Ray spent his life living the way the Lord wanted him to live and that showed through his love for his family and his generosity to so many people. He began working at seventeen at Winn Dixie while finishing high school and went on to earn a higher accounting diploma from Palmer College. He then went to work as a supervisor at Mount Vernon Textile Mill while also working as a computer operator at Richland Memorial Hospital. During this time, he also served in the Army National Guard for six years. After the mill closed, he went to work for Lexington State Bank in the computer room, then became the purchasing agent for the bank while he continued to work at the hospital. He also served on the Columbia Postal Council. After Lexington State Bank merged with another bank he went to work with the SC Department of Corrections as a supervisor in Prison Industries while he continued to work for Richland Memorial Hospital. He retired from the hospital after 35 years and later retired from the SC Department of Corrections. He was a lifelong member of Pauline Church of Christ in Fairview where he had, in previous years, served as an elder and helped the church move forward with building the Fellowship Hall. He loved his church family.

He is survived by his wife, the love of his life for more than sixty two years, Joan Rawls Smith of West Columbia; their children, Jennifer S. Grice (Joey) of West Columbia, Kyle B. Smith (Angela) of Prosperity, Terri S. Nelson (Dennis) of West Columbia, Jason D. Smith of Lexington and Elizabeth S. Dedecker of Tennessee; grandchildren, Justin, Brady, Austin, Kaylee, Lacey, Brantley, Taylor, Georgia, Adam, Kristen, and Jesse; great-grandchildren, Sawyer, Carter, Grayson, and Abigail; and brother, Freddy M. Smith (Joyce) of Leesville.

A memorial service will be held for Ray at 3:00 PM on Sunday, February 4, 2024 at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home – West Columbia Chapel, 820 West Dunbar Road, West Columbia, SC 29170, with a visitation to follow the service.