Mr. Gerald Wayne Smith, age 76, of Valley passed away on Friday, September 15^th, 2017 at the Bethany House in Auburn following a lengthy illness.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Monday, September 18^th, 2017 at 3:00P.M. EDT at the Langdale United Methodist Church.  The Reverend Rusty Tate will officiate the service.  Mr. Smith’s family will greet friends on Monday September 18^th, 2017 at the Langdale United Methodist Church from 1:00P.M. EDT until the service hour.

Mr. Smith is survived by his wife of 55 years, Suzanne Bledsoe Smith; two sons, Brian Smith (Chad Gill), Birmingham, David G. (Gina) Smith, Valley; six grandchildren, Zachary Wayne Smith, Valley, Andrew Kenneth (Jenny) Smith, Valley, Amanda Fuller, Auburn, Jamie Fuller, Auburn, Jessica (Chase) Daugherty, Auburn, Mark McCord, Valley; three great-grandchildren, Jax Smith, Valley, Kacin Owsley, Auburn, Tyler Daugherty, Auburn; his aunt, Doris “Dobbie” Moon, Valley, his “brother from another mother”, Randy Moon, Valley; brothers-in-law, Harold Taylor, Birmingham, Roger (Shannon) Bledsoe, West Point, Georgia; as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his parents, J.M. and Audrey Cheek Smith; uncle, Radford “Shiney” Moon; grandparents, W.A. and Essie Cheek; daughter-in-law, Beth Smith; sister-in-law, Gena Taylor; father-in-law, James Bledsoe and mother-in-law, Margaret Bledsoe.

Mr. Smith was born on August 25^th, 1941 in Valley, Alabama.   After graduating from Valley High School, Mr. Smith worked for West Point Pepperell.  He then worked for Independent Life and Liberty National Life Insurance Companies before beginning a nearly 40 year career in the automobile business. Mr. Smith worked for Huguley Scott Ford, Bill Johnson Motors, King Ford, and Langdale Motor Company, while working and raising his family. 

Mr. Smith was also a drummer for several bands of various musical genres, at one point playing on stage at the famed Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.  He was a lifelong fan of both the Auburn Tigers and the Atlanta Braves. 

In his retirement years, he enjoyed singing in the church choir, playing cards with the Rook Club at Langdale United Methodist Church, and spending time with family and friends, especially, Jax Smith, the light of his Pop’s life.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made in Mr. Smith’s memory to the “Barrel of Love” Fund or the “Choir Fund”, both at Langdale United Methodist Church.

Please visit Mr. Smith’s Memorial Tribute page at www.johnsonbrownservicefh.com to leave a condolence for his family, share a memory of Gerald Wayne, or to light a Remembrance Candle in his memory.

Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home of Valley is directing.

 Service Information