Jimmy Smith

Jimmy Wayne Smith was born Christmas morning 1937 to Wallace and Marietta (Benefield) Smith in Ripley MS. Jim's sister Helen often told that he was the Christmas present that year and they loved him. His siblings were and are Harold Smith (deceased), Eloise (deceased), Bill (Fenton, MI), Helen (deceased), Shirley (deceased), Peg (Panama City Beach, FL) and Dan Smith (Phoenix, AZ). Jim married Margaret (Whitledge) on August 20, 1954. He often reminded us of the story that he had to borrow a car to get married. He adored her. Together they raised seven children. Jimmy Wayne, Jr (Sharon) of Liberal, MO, Douglas (Randi) of Oronogo, MO, Mark (Amy) of Liberal, MO, Kathy Miller (Keith) of Liberal, MO, David (Lynn) of Liberal, MO, Greg (Melissa) of Galena, KS, and Brian (Sabra) of Liberal, MO. He had twenty-nine grandchildren, forty-eight great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren. Jim was a strong Christian man. He and Margaret accepted Jesus as their savior on Easter morning in 1971 and their lives and the lives of their children were forever changed. Jim loved to sing and he had an amazing voice, a loud, powerful voice that when you heard him sing you could feel his love for his Lord all through you. His favorite song "said" grace fought this battle and sin died here. Jim passed peacefully, surrounded by seventy members of his family. He was loved and will be missed by many. He surrendered to the ministry in 1977 and pastored several area churches.