Mr. John Edward Smith

John Edward Smith, affectionately called Shorty, was born September 15, 1958 to Reverend Thurman and Elder Betty Smith in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He exchanged his earthly home for his eternal home on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. John attended elementary school in Fayetteville, North Carolina (Cumberland County). He went during the time of desegregation in which caused him to attend four different schools; Ashley, Haymont, Walker and back to Haymont. He went to Alexander Graham Junior High (AG), and finished school at Terry Sanford Senior High. He was a guy of short stature, as his nickname states, but he played the tuba like a Big Man! He went into the military where he served our country from 1977 through 1983. John endured several special top secret missions while serving in the Army. Once he got out, John worked in horticulture/ landscaping, and he helped his father-in-law on their family farm. He also worked at One Hour Koretizing on Ft. Bragg Road and at Mr. Everette's business. He obtained an Associates degree in Culinary Arts from Lenoir Community College in 2008. John will be sorely missed. He was a giving person, and loved having fun. His wife wanted to tell us that he loved going to the VFW!!! He was a companion and friend to his mom in his latter years. He always had a riddle about Bible characters to share with her! John was preceded in death by his parents, Reverend Thurman Smith and Elder Betty Smith, and two sisters, Elizabeth (Chubby) Walton and Dr. Brenda Smith Haynes. He leaves to cherish his memories, his wife of 44 years, in which he met while on military tour in Karlsruhe, Germany in 1979: Darlene Boyd Smith; one son: DéAndre (Kim) Crawford of Spring Lake, North Carolina; two daughters: Shameeka (Lloyd) Smith and Nastoshia Smith; five grandchildren: Diana Lloyd, Victor Lloyd, Antonia, D'Andre, Jr. and Andreas Crawford; his siblings: Thurman (Dorothy) Smith of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Delmethia (David) Bennett of Richmond, Virginia, Patricia (Joseph) Cottingham of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Regina (Terry) Owens of Jacksonville, Florida and Daniel (Rose) of Kuwait; a special brother-in-love: John Haynes of Fayetteville, North Carolina; two uncles: Randell Kelly Graham of Silver Springs, Maryland and Charles Moore of Washington DC; one aunt: Mary Jackson of Buffalo, New York; one nephew/ brother: Lonnie Walton III; two special friends that have been with him from tots until now: David McLeod and Milton Faison; and a great host of nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. Rest on John! We will see you again in the rapture.

Mr. John Edward Smith

September 15, 1958 - March 11, 2025