Joe Henry Smith, Sr.'s Obituary
Joe Henry Smith Sr., 91, of Chattanooga, passed away Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at his residence. He was born May 5, 1933 with twin brother, John Henry Smith, Jr. in Penfield, Georgia to John Henry and Corine Smith. He was the stepson of Lula Bell Smith of Athens, Georgia. Joe accepted Christ as his personal Savior at an early age. As a young man, he sang in a Christian A cappella group as a bass singer along with his brother-in-law, Lenette Davenport.
He met his future wife, Sadie Mae Norman, after she graduated from Howard High School in 1959. She moved to Atlanta to attend college. In 1960, they met each other. Joan Bridges lived in Atlanta and she was Sadie’s room-mate the whole time Sadie was at Grady Memorial Nursing School. Her boyfriend and Joe knew each other based on where they grew up in Georgia. He introduced him to Sadie during their weekly dances at her dorm area. She got acquainted with his family and friends and they dated from 1960 – 1962. They got married on the same date as Sadie’s graduation from Grady August 23, 1962 so that the families wouldn’t have to make more than one trip. Sadie’s Uncle Clark was a preacher and her Aunt Josephine loved to have parties and so they got married in their living room. His sister Katherine was Sadie’s maid of honor and Katherine’s husband, Lenett was Joe’s best man. They moved to Chattanooga to get jobs and to raise a family. They had three children; Joe Jr., Joetta, and JoCarole. They have truly been blessed to follow Sadie’s parents’ example of being married for 58 years.
Joe was employed at Western Auto and Supply for ten years. He later was employed by Buster Brown Hosiery Mills in Chattanooga, TN for 32 years 11 months. Along with his wife, Sadie, and daughter, they attended the United Church of God.
Joe was a quiet, respectful and dependable man. He had a passion for talking on his CB radios all over the world with his good friend Monroe Jones. He would talk on his CB radios and ask how my radio sound and fixing and talking about his 1950 Ford F-1 Pickup Truck. Joe’s other hobbies included being an avid Cox remote control airplane flyer. He was also a loyal listener of the Rev Ike inspirational gospel songs program. He was a member of the Krystal Breakfast Club.
Among those who preceded Joe in death include his parents, John Henry Smith Sr., Corine N. Robinson, and Lula Bell Smith, brother, John Henry Smith Jr. (Twin), sister, Katherine Hunter, sister, Georgia Mae Travis, brother, John Edward Smith, and his beautiful wife of 58 years of marriage, Sadie Norman Smith.
Survivors include one son, Joe Henry Smith, Jr., of Chattanooga; two daughters, Joetta Smith, of Antioch, TN and JoCarole Smith of Chattanooga; six sisters, Annie (Ferris) Vinson of Athens, GA, Henrietta Smith, Morine (Lewis) Freeman, of Bethlehem, GA, Sarah (Wylie) McGuire, of Statham, GA, Earline (Roger) Scott, of Columbia, SC, and Ruby Dowdy of Los Angeles, CA; two brothers, John Dowdy of Los Angeles, CA and Johnny Floyd (Mary) Smith of Athens, GA; sister-in-law, Vanessa Smith of Colbert, GA; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
Joe will lie-in-state on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at Taylor Funeral Home. Graveside service will follow at 1:00 p.m. in Lakewood Memory Gardens, East with Pastor John Parish as Eulogist.
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