Joel Thomas Smith: 1949-2024
Joel "Joe" Thomas Smith (75) of Dresden, Tennessee, died at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital on July 29, 2024 after a long battle with COVID-19-related and lung-related illness.
He was a master hunter, fisherman, advisor (solicited or otherwise), and loving husband, father, brother grandfather, and friend to all.
Joe was born February 16, 1949 to Lonnie and Lillian Smith in Ridgely, Tennessee. He attended school in Lake County before starting row crop and hog farming. He was drafted into the Army on March 2nd,1969.
He completed basic infantry training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, after which he was assigned to assist with training junior soldiers. While performing his duties, Joe injured his leg and was medically discharged from the Army. When he returned, he moved to Dresden, Tennessee where he continued farming. He met Alice Faye Lee in Dyersburg, Tennessee. They were married November 24, 1967.
Joe was a member of the Church of Christ and served as an elder at both Macedonia Church of Christ and Greenfield Church of Christ.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents (Lonnie and Lillian Smith), his first wife (Alice Faye Smith), sister (Janice Williams), and brothers (Ray, John Wayne, and Tony Smith). He is survived by his current wife (DJ, older brother Billy Smith, older sister Judy Pace, son Jamie (Deena) Smith of Sharon, TN, daughter Mandy (Andy) Tackitt of Dresden, TN, four grandchildren, Kaley (Houston) Welch of Fayetteville,TN, James (Grace) Smith of Dyer, TN, Ally and Drew Tackitt of Dresden, TN and three great-grandchildren, Darcy, Ophelia, and Nora Welch.
Visitation will be from 2:00-4:00pm at Macedonia Church of Christ, 925 Lower Sharon Rd., Dresden
TN, on Saturday, August 3. The memorial service will follow visitation at 4:00pm. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Jude's Children's hospital.
