He was born July 24, 1926, in Duplin County to Coy Burnell and Mattie Gladys Benton Smith.
James (Jim) is survived by his sons: Daniel G. Smith and Stephen R. Smith, both of Clayton, one sister, Lillie S. Jones of Mount Olive, NC and sister-in-law’s, Helen Joy Knight Brown of Bedford, NH and Ellen Pettus, of Keysville, VA. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews in the Smith and Knight families.
In addition to his parents, Jim was predeceased by his wife of 59 years, Jean Knight Smith, his infant brother, Frank Smith and brothers and their wife’s Jack Smith (Viola), Eugene Smith (JoAnn), George Smith (Martha), and a sister and her husband, Doris S. Robinson (Robbie). He was also predeceased by his brother-in-law and his wife: Ralph G. Knight, Jr. (Ella Shirley Knight), and brothers-in-laws Hurley Jones, Donald R. Knight, Henry D. Brown, and Kenneth M. Knight.
Jim was a graduate of B.F Grady High School and East Carolina Teachers College, and a veteran of the US Army during World War II. He was active in Boy Scouts with Tuscarora Council and worked as a school teacher and retired working with Kemp Furniture in Wendell, NC. He also enjoyed gardening throughout his lifetime.
Jim was a member of Stanford Presbyterian Church in the Beautancus Community and later with Horne Memorial Methodist Church in Clayton.
A service will be held Saturday March 25, 2023 at 1:00 PM at Horne Memorial United Methodist Church in Clayton. Visitation with family and friends will take place prior to the service from 12 Noon to 1:00 PM at the Church, with burial at Maplewood Cemetery in Clayton immediately following the service.
The family would like to thank the staff of 3HC Hospice for their compassionate home care over the past year and most recent care at Kitty Askins Hospice Center.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to the (Endowment Fund, Horne Memorial Methodist Church, PO Box 475, Clayton, NC 27528), (3HC Hospice, 2402 Wayne Memorial Drive, Goldsboro, NC 27534), (Kitty Askins Hospice Center, 107 Handley Park Court, Goldsboro, NC 27534), or the (Roberts-Swinson Scholarship Endowed Fund, University of Mount Olive, PO Box 90, Mount Olive, NC 28365).
