Services for William Jefferson “Jay” Smith of Valparaiso, Fla.,are 11 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 16, at First Baptist Church inValparaiso with burial in Heritage Gardens.

Visitation is today from 6-8 p.m. at Heritage Gardens FuneralHome and Saturday from 10 a.m. until service time at thechurch.

Mr. Smith died Nov. 14, 2002. He attended Copiah-Lincoln JuniorCollege from 1936-39. He was inducted into the Co-Lin Sports Hallof Fame in 1980. He attended Millsaps College from 1939-41, when hejoined the Army and served as a sergeant in 623rd Military PoliceCompany. While serving in Hawaii, he witnessed the attack on PearlHarbor. He was awarded the Bronze Star. After WWII, he graduatedfrom the University of Southern Mississippi. He was inducted intothe USM Sports Hall of Fame in 1965. He was president of the USM”M” Alumni Club from 1970-73. He was drafted by the BrooklynDodgers and by the Chicago Bears.

He coached at Century High School in Century, Fla., SeminaryHigh School, and Crestview High School in Crestview, Fla., andtaught driver education at Niceville High School.

Preceding him in death were his parents, William Allen andDesdia Porter Smith; and his siblings, Lula Rushing, Elma LeeRushing, Clyde Smith, Verdie Posey, Edna Cowart, Oscar Allen Smith,and Bracie Smith.

Survivors are his wife of 56 years, Cecile Anderson Smith ofValparaiso; his son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Linda Smith ofNiceville, Fla.; his daughter and son-in-law, Janeane and HerschelWilliams of Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.; his sisters, Mildred Brown ofNatchez and Eddie V. Walker of Jackson; his brother-in-law andsister-in-law, John R. and Pauline Anderson of Niceville; hissister-in-law, Vivian Cooley of Laurel; his grandchildren, RyanSmith, Matthew, Branden, Lalainya, Zaria and Damon Williams, andDanny and Angie Williams; and his nieces and nephews, VersieRushing of West Lincoln, and Norine Felder, Barbara Ann McGee, andFay Harris, all of Jackson.