Johnnie Melvin Smith, a resident of Montgomery, went home to the Lord, on Sunday, June 12, 2016. Johnnie was born in Coffee County, Alabama, on August 28, 1930. He was the beloved husband of Katie Deese Smith, whom he married on July 6, 1955. He is survived by his devoted wife, sister Connie Eubanks, brother James Daniel Smith, and sister Betty Ann Aten. He was preceded in death by his parents Lester and Esther Mae Smith, his brother Willie Edward Smith, and his sister Sue Duckett. He was a caring father to Michael (Terry) Smith, Kathy Smith, Virginia Lynn (Scott) Gregory, and Stacy Smith, and proud grandfather of Tanner Smith, Cameron Gregory, and Kathryn Gregory.
He served in the U.S. Air Force, stationed in Japan, during the Korean Conflict. He then graduated from Huntingdon College with a major in business and a minor in religion in 1957. Johnnie had a long successful management career with Rollings, Inc. He served his community through many years as a loyal member of the Dixie Lions, Montgomery Civitan, Montgomery Chamber of Commerce, Whitfield Memorial UMC, a volunteer for the American Red Cross, a supporter of the Crump Community Center, and a U.S. Census taker.
Visitation at Leak Memory Chapel in Montgomery will be held at 9:00 a.m. and funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 17. Interment will proceed at Hills Chapel Cemetery in Grady with a celebration of life lunch at Red's Little School House to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Hills Chapel Cemetery Fund, 10989 Mount Zion Road, Ramer, AL 36069, or the charity of your choice.
Published in the Montgomery Advertiser on June 15, 2016.