James M. Smith

He was born in McNairy County, the son of the late Willard M. and Myrtle Ward Smith. He graduated from Chester County High School in 1956. He entered the U.S. Air Force and served in the medical administration core in Tachikawa, Japan. He was married to Marilyn Worden in 1967. He was vice president of Pitts Family Restaurants, Inc. based in Lafayette, LA. He was in college food services at Austin Peay and then served as Director of Food Services at Lambuth University from 1989 until 1995, most recently he was area manager of Popeyes Chicken and Biscuits franchise in Jackson, TN. He retired in 2005.



He was a member of the Oakville Masonic Lodge, Memphis Scottish Ritz and Al Cheymia Shrine in Memphis.



He is survived by his wife Marilyn Worden Smith of Jackson; two sons Brian Smith and Kevin Smith both of Jackson; a brother Waford Max Smith of Finger and a sister Kate Garner of Memphis.