James ("PaP") Smith

James Smith of Crossett, AR was born to the late Napoleon Smith and Elizabeth Pippen on November 24, 1936, in Rayville, LA. He peacefully transitioned from his earthly life into his eternal life on September 28, 2023, in the presence of family  at the Baptist Health Medical Center in Conway, AR

Pap as he was affectionately known as, met Bernice Jaminson, the love of his life in 1955, and seven years later July 28, 1962, he married her and took care of her until her passing on November 13, 2005. He lived his life to the fullest. People would always say the party didn’t get started until Pap walked in. He loved to dance, and he loved music, but he had a vivid passion for fishing. If it was up to him, he would fish every day all day.

He worked for some years at the Georgia Pacific Plywood before transferring to GP Paper Mill. He remained a hard and faithful employee there until the amputation of his arm and soon after retirement. He was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years, his parents, two sons: James Smith, Jr and Ricky Smith; one daughter: Penelope Smith; one grandson: Christopher Duke, one granddaughter: Brittney Williams and one great-grandson: Kylian Goree; four brothers: Thomas Smith. George Smith, Lee Tom McGee, and Norman Smith; four sisters: Betty Joe Smith, Yvonne Lewis, Jacqueline Lindsey, and Marion Jones.

He leaves to cherish his memory: four daughters: Lee Archy Gilliam. Millie Washington, Janice Williams, , and Lashanda Waters all of Crossett, AR; one son: Gregory Smith of Crossett, AR one sister: Jerlin Bunton, and one brother: Napoleon Smith, Jr. both of Monroe, LA; 19 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren, and 13 great-great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at the Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church in Crossett, AR.

Visitation will be held from 5 until 7 on Friday, October 6, 2023, at the chapel of Mitchell Memorial. 

Burial will follow in the Westview Cemetery under the direction of Mitchell Memorial Funeral Service of Crossett, AR.  

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