Obituary of James Smith, Sr.

James “Smitty” Grady Smith, Sr., 84, husband of Gerry Annette Brandon Smith, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 29, 2021. Mr. Smith was born in Greenville, SC to the late Grady Lee Smith and Maybelle Emmaline Collins Smith. Smitty was an electrician who retired after 23 years at Hoechst Celanese Corporation where he created 7-9 inventions that improved the company and was active in their research and development department. He was a member of Standing Springs Baptist Church and had previously served in the U.S. Air Force. As a car enthusiast, Smitty loved working on his 1968 Dodge Charger “Blue Goose.” He was actively involved in his church community where he served as a videographer of both the services and Sunday school, and he visited shut-ins and took service copies to them. He was known for meticulous record keeping whether it regarded car maintenance or medical records, and he was renowned for “Ho Ho Ho Gifts.” With a witty sense of humor, genuine creativity and love and devotion to his family, “GG Pa” as he was known to his great-grandkids, will be greatly missed. Surviving, in addition to his wife, is a son, James “Jimmy” Smith, Jr. and wife Joyce; a daughter, Brenda Barbrey and husband David; two stepdaughters, Paula H. McMillon and Patricia Bellue and husband Scott; a brother, George Smith Sr. and wife Thi Chi; a sister-in-law Celeste; four grandchildren, JJ Smith, Cecil Leebo Smith and wife Blythe, Brandy Nina Cheyenne Zavala and husband Guill, Elizabeth Nicole Layton; a step-grandson Phillip Edward Webb; and two great-grandchildren, John Mark Smith and Hannah Faith Cooper. He was predeceased by his 1st wife of 39 years, Joyce Drawdy Smith; a daughter, Glenda Diana Smith; a brother, Thomas Smith; and a sister, Lillian Etolia “Toy” Eubanks. A Celebration of Smitty’s life with military honors will be at 3 o’clock on Tuesday, May 4th at Standing Springs Baptist Church, officiated by Rev. Jordan Cobb with music by Pastor Ethan Dean. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service and burial will follow the service in Standing Springs Baptist Church Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Standing Springs Baptist Church, 1111 W. Georgia Rd., Simpsonville, SC 29680.