James “Edward” Smith (5-1-18) service 5-4-18

James Edward Smith was born Nov. 11, 1925, in McNairy County, the son of the late James Oscar and Exie LeAnn Davis Smith.
He served our country proudly during World War II.
He was united in marriage to Maxine Smith on June 28, 1946. Mrs. Smith preceded him in death on May 5, 2010.
Edward was a hard working man his whole life. He was a leader and visionary when it came to farming. As a Test Demonstration Farmer, other farmers would come to Edward to learn about new equipment and maintenance. He was a very good mechanic and was always maintaining his own equipment, from Smith Farms to Smith Trucking. He also owned Edward Smith and Sons Seeds. Smith Farms was one of the biggest farms in the 1960s and 1970s with about 2,400 acres. He also was a member of the Soybean Association and big in swine farming.
Edward also worked hard for the Lord. He served God as a minister for 57 years in North Alabama, North Mississippi and Southwest Tennessee. He held tent revivals for church planting and was a founder of First Freewill Baptist Church in Adamsville. He was a member of the Freewill Baptist Association. Edward’s faith in the Lord was strong and he enjoyed sharing the gospel.
Mr. Smith departed this life on Tuesday, May 1, in Corinth, Mississippi, at the age of 92 years, 5 months, 20 days.
He is survived by a daughter, Dana Janniece Henderson and husband Bobby of Stantonville; three sons, Nyles E. Smith and wife Doris of Stantonville, Jamie Max Smith and wife Penny of Sardis, Barney Dwayne Smith and wife Carol of Stantonville; 12 grandchildren and 22 great- grandchildren.
In addition to his wife and parents, Mr. Smith was preceded in death by a son, Joseph Randy Smith; two grandchildren, Jim Smith and Dana Paul Kitchen; and a sister, Daphen Smith.
Funeral services were held on Friday, May 4, at 11 a.m., at Shackelford Funeral Directors in Selmer with family officiating. Interment with full military honors  followed in Stantonville Cemetery at Stantonville, Tennessee. 
Memorials may be made to the Adamsville, Tennessee Freewill Baptist Church.