Oliver George (Papa) Smith
Published 3:53 pm Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Oliver George (Papa) Smith of Providence passed away Oct. 22, 2017.
Mr. Smith preceded in death by his wife of 39 years, Mary Jane Smith; parents, Gladys and O.B. (Tom) Smith; sister, Virginia Skinner; daughters, Jan Smith and Sheila Hinson; and son, Ben Smith.
He was born on August 22, 1936 in Half Acre, Alabama. He worked at Gulf States Paper and retired from Borden Chemical Corporation. Earlier in life he worked as a mechanic at the local car dealership in Linden before joining the Army. While serving our country, he received the Medal of Commendation, the highest peacetime medal of that time.
His parents brought their family to a farm on the Chickasaw Bogue north of Linden in 1949. Mr. Smith later raised his own children and resided there until his passing. He attended both Providence Baptist Church and Beaver Creek Baptist Church.
He is survived by his children: Sandra Reaves (Randy), Karen Fleming (Randy), Pam Smith, Charles Turner (Tanya), Angelia Osburn (Jerry), and Christopher Smith (Linda); as well as his younger sister, Betty Jean Hurst, also of Providence. His legacy includes his much beloved nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great- and great-great-nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be nephews, Jim Skinner, Bill Skinner, Steven Skinner, Lee Gibson, and grandsons, Luke Barley and Corey Smith.
Funeral services will be held at O’Bryant Chapel Funeral Home on Wednesday, Oct. 25, at 2 p.m. with Rev. David Stidham officiating. Burial will be at Demopolis Memorial Gardens in Demopolis.
Arrangements by O’Bryant Chapel Funeral Home in Linden.