James "Smitty" Hammond Smith

James Hammond Smith December 2, 1929 – July 26, 2016 James “Smitty” Hammond Smith, 86, of Wilson passed away Tuesday. His memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at Joyner’s Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Parkway, Wilson. The family will receive friends immediately following the service and other times at the family home or at the home of his daughter Karen Owens. Smitty served his country with honor and pride in the 82nd Airborne and the 77th Special Forces, which is the now, the Green Beret, for over eight years and was Sergeant First Class. He was a police officer in the City of Wilson for twenty-six years, where he was known as the “motorcycle cop”. Along with his buddy J.G. “Tant” they were instrumental in the construction of the pistol range for the Wilson Police Department. Smitty competed and won first place for his whirligigs for four out of five years in a row. He was a talented man that could fix and make almost anything that he wanted along with being a master carpenter and auto mechanic. He loved autocross racing and making stained glass. Smitty was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend to all that knew him. He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed and remembered with memories that will warm the heart. We would like to express our sincere thank you to Dr. Lerro, Dr. Gotur, Dr. Herron, Dr. Perez-Navaro, the staff of the third floor West, the Emergency Room, Dr. Satterfield and Megan, and especially Terri Glover, who we can’t thank enough for her tireless help and guidance. Smitty is survived by his loving wife of sixty-three years, Mary of the home; his daughter, Karen Owens and husband, Tommy of Wilson; granddaughter, Amanda Owens ; grandson, Chad Owens; sisters-in-law, Bernice Brantley of Broadway and Jewel Hardister of Wilson and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Hammond Smith and Minnie Inez Sullivan Smith, and his sisters, Gladys Dawson, and Ethel Robinson. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed in “Smitty’s” honor to the Wounded Warrior, PO Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675, Disabled Veterans, 3725 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, Kentucky 41078, or the Wilson Police Department Athletic League, Wilson County Law Enforcement Association, or the Wilson Police Department Memorial Fund, 120 Goldsboro Street E, Wilson, North Carolina 27893. Condolences may be directed to www.joyners.net.