Garry Smith

Garry Isom Smith, 68, joined his Heavenly Father on Saturday, October 6, 2018, from Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland, MS.  Visitation will be 4:30 - 7:30 PM on Tuesday, October 9, 2018, at Crossgates Baptist Church and starting at 11:00 AM on Wednesday until the 12 Noon Celebration of Life Service at Crossgates Baptist Church.  Interment will follow in Lakeland Place Garden Park Cemetery.

A 1968 Graduate of Forest Hill High School, Garry went on to attend Hinds Community College where he played football and married his wife of 48 years, Darlene.  A spectacular husband and fantastic father, he devoted much of his energy to loving and providing for his family.  This includes his 43 years as a lineman for MP&L and Entergy.

Garry wore many hats in his lifetime, literally and figuratively.  He touched many lives while coaching youth sports at the Southwest YMCA, Forest Hill Youth Club and the South West Jackson Soccer League.  He served as a volunteer Coach for the Wingfield High School Soccer team, pioneered and led the soccer program at Hillcrest Christian School for more than a decade, and ended his coaching career at Park Place Academy.  Garry truly loved and cared for each child he coached, including his own children and grandchildren.  He also loved Jesus and was committed to leading others to Him.  This was made evident by his Biblical leadership and his leading of The Lord’s Prayer after every practice or game.

Garry was also known for, among other things, his outstanding facial hair and making the worlds best homemade banana pudding.

Survivors include his wife, Darlene Shivers Smith; daughters, Paige Bounds and husband, Mike of Pearl and Brandy Brown and husband, Steve of Terry; son, Seth Smith and wife Lindsay of Madison; mother, Geneva Aycock of Spartanburg, SC; sister, Judy Brown of Georgia; 10 grandchildren, Paxton Bounds Hayley Bounds, Oakley Bounds, Laken Bounds, Annabelle Brown, Arlie Brown, Ike Brown, Sienna Smith, Cruise Smith and Price Smith; mother-in-law, Grace Shivers; nephew, Nathan Brown (Molly), great-niece, Savannah Brown; aunt, Mackie Paschal; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Jennie and Curtis Massey; sister-in-law, Chan Patterson; brother-in-law, Neil Shivers; nieces, Kristen Rimes (Jeff), Lauren Brown (Benji), Lynde McPherson (Wes), Heather Patterson, Mamie Converse (Clark), Eleanor Shivers, Ava Shivers and a host of great-nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Hospice Ministries, 450 Towne Center Blvd, Ridgeland, MS 39157.