Funeral services for Earl Smith, of McCall Creek, will be Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, at Brookhaven Funeral Home at 3 p.m. with burial to follow in the Ramah Baptist Church Cemetery in McCall Creek. Bro. Lonnie Case will officiate the services.

Visitation will be today, Dec. 29, 2018, from 5 until 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, from 1 p.m. until time of service at the funeral home.

Mr. Smith, 91, died Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018. He was born April 1, 1927, in Lucien, to Maggie and Hiram Smith.

Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and one sister; and his loving wife of 64 years, Ann Smith.

Survivors are his daughter, Diane Hemmenway and her husband, Butch of Groves, Texas; two sons, Don Smith of McCall Creek, and ; Dale Smith and his wife, Jennifer, of Magnolia, Texas; eight grandchildren, Heath Smith, Sommer Smith, Richard Stovall, David Smith, James Hemmenway, Seth Smith, Christen Smith and Caitlyn Smith; five great-grandchildren; and many nephews and nieces who have always known him as “Uncle Earl.” Family and friends alike will miss him.

Mr. Smith enlisted and served in the Navy prior to the end of WWII. He retired from Southwestern Bell Telephone Company after 35 years of service. Mr. Smith and his wife both retired and moved back to Mississippi to live on the home place where she was raised. They were blessed to enjoy 30 years of retirement together at their Mississippi home. Most recently Mr. Smith made his home at Camelia Estates Assisted Living in McComb. The family will always appreciate the care their dad received while living there. Although he did not have his cows, goats, miniature horses or Lucky; he very quickly made new friends and became an expert bingo player.

He was a faithful husband, loving father, wonderful grandfather and uncle, a faithful friend and a follower of Jesus Christ. He demonstrated his love for Ann by caring for her every need during the last years of her life. His sense of humor and joke-telling abilities were unmatched. He fought hard to overcome his health challenges and rebounded many times over the past years. His struggle is now over, he is whole and healed, he breathes freely in the place we call heaven, his forever home.