Edward Eugene "Gene" Smith

Saturday, June 15, 1929 - Monday, May 2, 2016

Mr. Edward Eugene "Gene" Smith of Hartford went home to be with the Lord Monday, May 2, 2016 at his home surrounded by his loving family.  He was 86. 

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 5, 2016 in the chapel of Sorrells Funeral Home & Crematory in Slocomb with Chaplin Bryan Simoneaux officiating.  Interment will follow in the Hartford City Cemetery with full military honors. 

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday beginning at 1:00 p.m. and continuing until service time. 

Gene was born June 15, 1929 in Blount County, Alabama to the late John Alec and Musey Putman Smith. Gene joined the Army in 1948 and received his basic training at Ft. Jackson. He served his country for 20 years and 7 months. After serving three tours in Korea, he continued his career stationed at Ft. Benning, GA, Ft. Kobbe Panama Canal Zone, Lintz Austria, Ft. Tiley, Kansas and Goppingen, Germany. Gene retired SGT First Class, Dec. 31, 1968 in GA. He lived and raised his family in Columbus, Georgia, Smith Station, AL, Lanett, AL and Kellyton, AL. He attended church regularly and was loved and adored by all who knew him. 

In addition to his parents, two wives: Carolyn Adamson Smith and Barbara Griffin Smith; one son, Gregory Smith; two daughters: Lynn Walters and Wanda Lamb; eight brothers and seven sisters all preceded him in death. 

Survivors include his loving wife of four years, Shirley Holland Smith, Hartford; one daughter, Lisa James, Opelika; four sons: Ernest Dale Smith (Machellda), Allen King (Kelly), Ronnie King (Brandy) and Shannon King (Susan) all of Hartford; three sisters: Judy Butts (Ronald), Janie Vandergriff (Frankie) and Linda Stephenson all of Oneonta; a special brother-in-law, Fred Bramlett, Elizabethtown, KY; 27 grandchildren: Daniel, Elizabeth and Charlie Smith, David Walters, Ciera Riggins, Jeneanne Scandrett, Nikki Sturkie, Kyle and Caitlin Branch, Michael, Scotty and Jon James, Terri Reeves, Joshua and Jalen Smith, Chanda Ellison, Cody, Savannah, Ronnie, Brinna, Shelby, Megan, Shannon Dwayne, Skylar, J.J. and Lylla King and Trinity Yarbrough; 34 great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and other extended family and friends. 

The family would like to thank the nurses and aides of First Choice Hospice and his special sitter, Jewel Grimes for the special love and care they gave Gene.