Mr. James Edward Smith was born on December 6, 1934 to the union of the late George and Mattie Smith in Reform, Alabama. James gave his life to Christ at a very young age. James was a graduate of Hopewell High School in Reform, Alabama. He joined the U.S. Army in February 1958 and completed basic training with an honorable discharge. In 1960, James met Annie Ovell Jennings while they both worked at the restaurant in Woolworth's in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. After four years of dating, they married in James’ apartment on April 20, 1964. Annie and James cared for their nieces and nephews. After nine years of marriage, their first daughter, Anjanette Patrice, was born and four years later their second daughter, Jana Linette, was born. James worked as chef in many restaurants in St. Louis such as the Mayfair Hotel, Nantucket Cove, Old Warson Country Club. He served as executive chef at Bentley’s Pub and Restaurant in Des Peres, Missouri for twenty years. Annie and James joined Ascension in Normandy Catholic Church in 1978. James was a devoted husband and father. He attended church regularly and served as Eucharistic minister. On Tuesday, January 17, 2017 at the age of eighty-two, James was called to his Heavenly Home after a long illness. He leaves precious memories with: his two daughters ~ Anjanette and Jana Smith of St. Louis, Missouri; siblings ~ Marie Smith, Annie Jean Stewart and Carol Smith, all of Reform, Alabama, Lois Stephens and Vollie (Clyde) Robbins, all of Aurora, Illinois and Clifford (Shirley) Smith of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; in-laws ~ Mrs. Viola (Junovia) Reed of Howardville, Missouri, Marguerite Stanton and Beatrice Liddell of St. Louis, Missouri, Rosalind Jennings of Chicago, Illinois, Regina Jennings of Portageville, Missouri and Flem Bronner, Sr. of St. Louis, Missouri; many nieces and nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends. His parents, George and Mattie Smith, his two brothers, Willie Smith and Latham Smith, and his beloved wife, Annie O. Smith, all preceded him in death.

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