James A. Smith, Jr.'s Obituary
James Andrew Smith, Jr., 90, of Chattanooga, passed away Monday, March 18, 2024. James was born July 9, 1933, in Blowing Springs, Georgia to the late James A Smith Sr. and Mary Frances Smith. James was a member of Mount Paran Baptist Church where he served on the usher board until his health failed. James was educated in the Georgia school system where he graduated from Hill High School in 1951 as class Salutatorian. After graduating from high school James went to work to care for his family. He was employed at Cotton Chemical, Container Corporation, Swift and Company, and Bunge Oil where he retired after thirty- five years receiving many awards for exemplary service. While waiting on the bus in South Chattanooga, he would often see this young girl, until one day he asked if her name was Dorothy Collins. James would eventually win her over after much pursuit and the two married and became one. James and Dorothy had three children, Ronald, Karen and Valerie. The couple were devoted to each other until her death and now they are together again. James enjoyed cooking Sunday dinners for his family but was known for his delicious hickory smoked barbecue ribs with that amazing sauce, hot crackling cornbread, greens, and banana pudding. He enjoyed reading his bible, watching sports, Westerns television shows and movies, and a little CNN. If you ask James if he needed anything, his response would be, “I just need the good Lord” or he would say, “You can give me a couple of hundred”. Many who knew James can tell you, he was not perfect but a man of honesty, integrity, hardworking, dependable; and that he loved his family. James believed in being there for his family and friends, if you needed a ride to work, or needed a job, or needed him in the middle of the night, or a ride to music lessons and sit under the oak tree on hot days, he did his best to support and provide. James was always there to offer advice to those who would ask for his opinion, something that he enjoyed, passing on knowledge. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Louise Collins Smith; son, Ronald V. Smith; grandson, Tracy L. Jackson; brother, John H. Smith; sister, Anna M. Eberhardt. Those who are blessed to cherish the memories of James are two daughters, Karen (William) Patterson, and Valerie (Robert) Thomas; six granddaughters, Dr. Pamela Smith-Ligon, Tiffany (Ivan) Gunn, April (Ronald) Sharp, Kristin Patterson, Kimberly Patterson and Kelly (Mark) Patterson Knowles; grandson, Ralph K Freeman II; brother, Hamilton “Hamp” (Sandy) Smith; sister, Mary Finley; two brothers in law, Charles (Colline) Love, and Robert Love; two sisters in law, Emma Love, and Gloria Thrikill; 17 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends, James will be truly missed by all who knew him, but he will never be forgotten. Our dear father, grandfather, provider, and protector, now rest in the arms of The Lord. He will lie-in-state on Thursday, April 4, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Taylor Funeral Home. Funeral service will follow at 12 noon in the chapel with Pastor Randy Peterson as the eulogist. Burial in Forest Hills Cemetery.
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