Judd Ray Smalley
A life-long resident of Hardeman County, he was the son of the late J. P. and Rudell Lax Smalley. On February 19, 1961, he was united in marriage to Carrie Alice Brown of Jackson, TN and their union lasted for nearly 62 years. In the 1960’s, Mr. Smalley was a member of the Tennessee National Guard.
Mr. Smalley ran his own concrete construction company for most of his life and for over 60 years was a member of Walnut Grove Baptist Church where he was also a deacon. An accomplished musician, he enjoyed playing with his small band at area nursing homes and was a member of the Hardeman County “Hee-Haw” show for several years. He was instrumental in helping get this now popular fund-raiser going and making it successful through the years. Judd also played with David Sipes and The Wheels (a local Bolivar-based band) and was active in gospel music circles, in years past, with The Harbingers Quartet. He devoted many unknown hours to volunteer efforts in our community including construction of the Hardeman County Arts Council building.
To many, Judd was known to be quite the practical joker and enjoyed making others, and himself, laugh with various tricks and pranks he would pull. He, Jamie Breeden and others built a “Clown Car” that was a famous attraction in Christmas parades all over West Tennessee even garnering an invitation to the Macy’s Parade in New York City.
Mr. Smalley was a hard-working man who enjoyed time spent working on his farm in Hickory Valley. However, the most important parts of life for Judd were church and family. A man of few words, he proved his love through his actions.
He leaves his wife, Carrie Alice Brown Smalley of Hickory Valley; his son, Michael Ray Smalley and wife, Melanie Johnson Smalley, also of Hickory Valley; three grandchildren, Sarah Morgan Smalley Bell and husband, Ryan, of Bolivar, Shelby Maisen Smalley Arner and husband, Chauncey, of Murfreesboro and Seth Mitchell Smalley of Hickory Valley; and great-grandchildren, Dallas Brooke Bell, Dottie Blair Bell, Demi Brynn Bell and one “on-the-way”.
Memorials may be sent to The Gideons International [http://www.gideons.org], The American Heart Association [http://www.heart.org] or, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital [http://www.stjude.org].
