Cpo Ret.

Born in Springhill, LA on July 2, 1940 Departed on December 1, 2016 and resided in Hendersonville, TN Visitation: Hendersonville Funeral Home Room: Stateroom ASunday December 4, 2016 2:00pm to 5:00pmVisitation: Hendersonville First Baptist Church Room: Main SanctuaryMonday December 5, 2016 11:00am to 12:00pmLife Celebration: Hendersonville First Baptist Church Room: Main SanctuaryMonday December 5, 2016 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Jerry Lenell Smith age 76, received his heavenly reward December 1, 2016 when he met his Father after a lengthy, courageous battle with cancer. Jerry was born July 2, 1940 in Springhill, LA to Nathan and Freida Smith.

He graduated from Franklinton High School in 1958 and Co-Lin Vocational School in 1986. After 32 years of service, Jerry retired from the U.S. Navy. He earned the rank of Chief Petty Officer and was extremely proud of his Naval service where he gained a slew of friends. In 1996, he retired from Pirelli-Armstrong Tire Company. However, he went on to work for Werner Enterprises of Scottsville, KY delivering merchandise for Dollar General until 2005.

Jerry volunteered at First Baptist Church Hendersonville, where he was a member since 1988. In his many volunteer roles he served as a church bus driver, member of the Hospital Visitation Team, and faithfully made sure coffee was prepared for Sunday services for several years until his failing health prevented him from doing so. Many souls benefitted from the caffeine, and who knows...they may be closer to the Lord for having been awake and alert for service and Sunday School.

Preceded in death by father, Nathan Smith; brother, Otto Allen Smith; grandparents, Fleet and Jewitt Walker, Alonzo and Maggie Smith; and marriage son, Douglas Alan Dooley Sr.

Survived by loving wife of 57 years, Margie Saucier Smith; daughter, Laureida Smith Dooley; grandson, Douglas Alan Dooley Jr.; chosen son, Tim (Sheri) Ramey; mother, Freida Walker Smith; sister, Carolyn (Robert) White; and brother, Larry (Maureen) Smith; several nieces and nephews; and many treasured friends.

Jerry will be interred in a National Cemetery on the banks of the Mississippi River in Natchez, MS. Because of flower restrictions, please make donations to the Coffee Fund, First Baptist Church Hendersonville, 106 Bluegrass Commons Blvd., Hendersonville, TN 37075.

On behalf of the entire Smith Family, we want to extend a word of sincere gratitude to Dr. Edward Kirk Barnes and the staff of Tennessee Oncology at Skyline, Dr. Walter Little of Nashville Urology, the staff of the Life Care Center of Old Hickory Village, Willowbrook, and all of the beautiful people of Alive Hospice. The expert care and loving touches given to Jerry never went unnoticed and we are forever grateful for all those individuals God placed in our path as Jerry's health faded.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, December 4, 2016 from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. at Hendersonville Funeral Home. A second visitation will be held on Monday, December 5, 2016 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. with a Life Celebration following at noon in the Main Sanctuary of First Baptist Church Hendersonville.