Obituary of Johnny Smith

WEST COLUMBIA: A Celebration of life memorial service for Johnny H. Smith, Sr., 76, will be held at 4 p.m. Friday, December 7, 2012, at Mt. Hebron United Methodist Church, officiated by Reverend Joe Long and Reverend Mandy Taylor Young. Honorary pallbearers will be the Wesley Fellowship Class and members of the Salkehatchie Summer Service Team. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Thursday evening at Mt. Hebron United Methodist Church in the Fellowship Hall. Memorials may be made to Salkehatchie Summer Service, a program that was so important to Johnny and so close to his heart. Earmark for Santee Camp "Johnny Smith Memorial", 4908 Colonial Drive, Columbia, SC 29203; or to Iva Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 519, Iva, SC 29655 or Starr Fire Department, P.O. Box 197, Starr, SC 29684, for their valiant efforts on his behalf. Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington is assisting the family. Mr. Smith passed away Saturday, December 1, 2012. Born in West Columbia, SC, he was a son of the late James Edd Smith and Lena Belle Senn Smith. He was a lifetime member of Mt. Hebron United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Wesley Fellowship Sunday School Class. Mr. Smith graduated from Brookland Cayce High School in 1955 where he lettered in baseball. He was retired from the Seaboard Coastline Railroad and CSX Transportation System after 42 years of service. He served as a team leader with Salkehatchie Summer Service for 25 years, helping restore homes in the Santee area and touching the lives of many young people. He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Ellen L. Smith of West Columbia; beloved children, Jennifer and Mike Christenbury of Starr, SC; Ward and Susan Smith of Houston, TX; his precious and much loved grandchildren, Graylyn, Kaitlyn and Amberlyn Christenbury; brothers, Durham Smith (Mary) of Mobile, AL, Adrian Smith (Regina) of West Columbia and J. Wayne Smith of West Columbia;13 nieces and nephews; brother-in-law, Bruce A. Linder of West Columbia; aunts, Addie Mae Millender of St. Matthews and Pat Senn of West Columbia.