John Allen Smith, Sr. of Starkville, MS, passed away on Friday, August 25, 2023, at North MS Medical Center in Tupelo, MS. Mr. Smith was born on April 29, 1943, in Choctaw County, MS, to Hubert Allen and Maurine (Erwin) Smith. He was 80 years old. Mr. Smith was a retired welder and worked in this position for 30 years for Babcock and Wilcox in West Point, MS. He was a member of Adaton Baptist Church.
Funeral services for Mr. Smith will be held on Monday, August 28, 2023, at 4:00PM, at Adaton Baptist Church near Starkville, MS. Visitation will precede the services beginning at 2:30PM until service time at Adaton Baptist Church near Starkville, MS.
Mr. Smith is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sandra Cothran Smith of Starkville, MS, two sons, Johnny Smith (Laura) of Starkville, MS and Ronald Smith (Susan) of Clinton, MS, two daughters, April Payne (David) of Mathiston, MS and Robin Bates (Adam) of Caledonia, MS, two sisters, Rose Burton of Ackerman, MS and Agnes Hobson of Pearl, MS, and three brothers, Eckle Smith, Eddie Smith, and Jimmy Smith, all of Mathiston, MS. Mr. Smith is also survived by ten grandchildren: Kaylan Thompson, Noah Smith, Madison Smith, Mitchell Smith, Beau Bates, John Thomas Bates, Cooper Bates, Blake Bates, Preston Payne, and Payton Payne, and two great grandchildren: Brady Thompson and Tucker Thompson.
He is preceded in death by his parents and one infant child, Michelle.
Memorials may be made to the Adaton Baptist Church.