James Kendall (SR) Smith

Funeral Services for Rev. J. K., Smith Sr. will be held Friday, September 16, 2022 at 12:00 Noon. Location:  Holly Spring Baptist Church 705 Buckeye Road, East Dublin. Interment will follow at Valdosta Baptist Church Cemetery. Rev. B.J. Martin will serve as eulogist.
  Rev. James Kendall Smith, Sr. affectionately known by most as “J.K. Smith” was born May 26, 1944 in Dublin, Georgia to the late Jane Maria Kellam. He entered into eternal rest Monday, September 12, 2022 at Fairview Park Hospital.
    Rev. Smith was a graduate of B.D. Perry High School, where he was a great basketball player. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at a very early age and joined Valdosta Missionary Baptist Church. After accepting Christ in his life, Rev. Smith began letting his light shine by singing with various quartet groups. Singing was indeed his passion, but God had a higher calling for his life. In 1967, he accepted his call in the ministry and began preaching the gospel.  Rev. Smith served faithfully as pastor in many churches in the Laurens, Dodge, Wheeler, Pulaski, Toombs and Tattnall Counties. His last assignment was Senior Pastor of Lovely Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Soperton, Georgia where he served faithfully for thirty nine years until his health declined into 2019.  Rev.  J.K .Smith, Sr., will always be known for being the pastor who God gifted to mentor and serve as a father to several  great ministers of the gospel .For those accomplishments, he will always be known as THE LEGENDARY J.K. Smith, Sr.
    Rev. Smith was preceded in death by his parents Mr. Willie B. Kellam, Mrs. Jane Maria Kellam, Mr. Willie Lee Smith,brothers; Willie James Kellam, Billy Kellam, Earl Smith and his son Rev.James Kendall Smith, Jr.
He leaves to cherish his memories, the love of his life  of fifty six years, Mrs. Christine Turner Smith, who he  lovingly called "Sally"; two  daughters: Evangelist Windy (Pastor Lehmon) Smith  Vidalia , GA;  Yolanda B. Smith Dublin , Georgia,  sisters; Annie Ruth Foster,  Willie Bell Smith, Ruthie Mae Medley all of Ft. Pierce, Florida,  Pastor Mary (Marshall) Duckett  Deland, Florida.,  Patricia Ann Smith and Mary Lee Coley both of Cleveland , Ohio, sister-in-law; Brenda Kellam, Atlanta,Georgia, brothers;Willie Lee( Jackie) Smith,Ft. Pierce,Florida,Larry James Smith and David Allen Smith,both of Cleveland, Ohio,brother –in- Law; Willie C. Turner,East Dublin, Georgia. Twelve grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.

Public viewing will be Thursday September 15 from 4:00 – 8:00 PM at the Funeral Home.

Serenity Funeral Home- Dublin, has charge of arrangements

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