Msg (Ret) James Smith
June 26, 1936 — December 29, 2022
MSG (RET) James Smith, 86, of Columbus, GA died December 29, 2022 at Martin Army Community Hospital.
A memorial service will be held 2:00 PM Friday, January 13, 2023 in the Chapel of McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory. A viewing will be held Thursday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the funeral home.
James was born in Inman, South Carolina in the summer of 1936. He was the son of Jaylinia and Annie Belle Smith. James enlisted in the Army as a young man at Ft Thomas, Kentucky. He served proudly and honorably for over 26 years. He served heroically in the Vietnam War and was part of the 25th Infantry Division. His awards include The National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Expeditionary Medal with six devices, Overseas Service Bars, Good Conduct Medal (4th award) and the Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, The Army Service Ribbon and Overseas Service Ribbon. James retired as a MSG and settled in Columbus Ga.
As an avid traveler one of his favorite stops was the casinos, which he was able to visit in the states and abroad. Traveling was his hobby and he and his Second wife Christa traveled extensively. James lost Christa in August of 2022, but he desired to get back to traveling and visited her home country of Germany during Thanksgiving 2022 with his daughter Felecia and other family members and friends. They traveled to 4 countries during this time and James wanted to be in Hawaii for New Year’s Eve and ring in 2023. After a short illness over the Christmas holiday, he left this earth to be with his loved ones before him.
James is proceeded in death by his sisters, Mary Mae Jones, Maggie Phillips, Lila Mae Smith, Carrie Montgomery, Nellie Porter and brothers, infant Virgil Smith, Ernest Smith, Harding Smith, and Willie Wilk Smith.
He was proceeded in death by his First wife, Dorothy Holloway Smith and Second wife Christa Dyer Smith.
He is survived by daughters, Felecia (Lisa) Russell Saunders and Thea Holloway, stepdaughters, Angela Dyer Copeland and Barbara Dyer Cristobal, two grandchildren, Bryson and Brandon Saunders all of Columbus Ga., and one brother Samuel “Bo” Smith of Dayton, Ohio who is left to cherish his memories.
He is also survived by a large family of beloved nieces and nephews that claim him as their favorite uncle and many dear friends.
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