Funeral services for Archie Jackson Smith were held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at The Church House with Reverend Josh Wilkerson and Dewey Coffman officiating. The burial followed in Flactor Cemetery under the direction of Jeane’s Funeral Service. The pallbearers were Elijah Morrison, Zakk Rogerson, Jackson Walton, Lucas Scerbo, James Scerbo, Ben Scerbo, Curtis Sumler, and Cayden Blackwell.
Archie was born one cold morning January 4, 1940. He was two months premature and weighed in at 3 pounds. He was born with a purpose. He went Home to be with the Lord September 5, 2023, a time appointed by God Himself.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Gladys Smith, and two sisters, Yvonne Goodman (Rufus) and Charlene Smith.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Lela Lorraine Smith; one son, Archie Levoy “Bubba” Smith (Helen); two daughters, Loree Anderson (Daniel) and Gaytha Walton (Byron); thirteen grandchildren, Natasha Wilkerson (Josh), Bree Anna Feduccia (Mason), Elijah Morrison (Destiny), Zakk Rogerson (K.T.), Sara Blackwell (Cayden), Kara Walton, Jackson Walton, Jocelyn Walton, Brook Wilder (Nick), Lucas Scerbo, Mya Mathis (Mark), James Scerbo, and Ben Scerbo (Lily); eleven great-grandchildren; one brother-in-law, Curtis “Buddy” Pursley; two sisters, Gloria Bell and Shirley McLeod;
and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
Archie moved to Houston, TX after high school and went to work in his brother-in-law’s television shop. Soon thereafter he went to work as a machinist and worked many years in that profession. He machined everything from bolts to helicopter parts.
Archie was a happy soul who laughed easily and made others laugh. He always had a funny story to share. He truly believed that “laughter doeth good like a medicine.”
Archie enjoyed fishing, hunting, and going to the mountains. He was known as the white-haired man on the red four-wheeler with a tree limb on the front he called his spider catcher, and his walker on the back. He scared all who rode with him.
In 1957, he married his soul mate, Lorraine, and together they entered a relationship that was very special. They also started a lifelong, committed ministry.
