It is with glad yet heavy hearts that we announce the passing of James Taylor Smith. James met his Lord and Savior on October 19, 2023, in Birmingham, AL. James is survived by sisters, Kathryn Chastain and Nell Mathis; daughter, Karen Smith Duffey; stepson, William Allen Chandler, Jr.; stepdaughter, Angela Chandler Brooks Walker. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Joseph Johnson Duffey, III, John Taylor Duffey, Katherine Duffey Barr, Christopher Allen Chandler Brooks, Elijah Luke Chandler, James Rawson Brooks, and Anna Virginia Chandler; and great-grandchildren: Lydia Duffey, Joseph Duffey, IV, Caroline Duffey, Joshua Duffey, James Duffey, Nathaniel Duffey, Lillie Duffey, and Lottie Chandler.
Born on December 11, 1932, in Marshall County, Alabama, to Ernest Dozier Smith and Minnie Marie Lowery, James graduated from Jacksonville State University with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. He served as a lieutenant in the United States Army, taught school, served as school principal, and spent the majority of his career at the United States Army Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, October 28, 2023 at Southwood Presbyterian Church. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. with Pastor Will Spink officiating. The burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to Southwood Presbyterian Church, 1000 Carl T Jones Drive SE, Huntsville, Alabama 35802.
