James Leon “Jimmy” Smith

James Leon “Jimmy” Smith, a lifelong resident of Braxton, Mississippi, was called home to meet the Great Carpenter on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by the love and care of his family and his devoted wife, Sharron.

It would be easy to say that Jimmy never met a stranger, and while that was certainly true, perhaps it would be more fitting to say that he never met a person in need whom he wouldn’t try to help.

A hardworking man and skilled craftsman, Jimmy spent much of his life building new homes, improving old ones, and mastering his trade as a carpenter. His work was more than a livelihood; it was an opportunity to build lasting friendships and make a difference in the lives of others.

Throughout his career, Jimmy employed many men who became much more than coworkers. They became lifelong friends and an extension of his family. He believed in giving people an opportunity, especially those who had fallen on hard times or simply needed someone willing to give them a chance. He understood the value of hard work, expected the same from those around him, and believed that a person’s past did not have to determine their future.

The friendships and loyalty built over those years endured long after the workdays ended. As time passed and Jimmy’s health began to decline, many of the same men he had once helped returned to lend him a hand. Whether repairing something around the house, helping with a project, or simply checking in, their kindness was a reflection of the lasting impact he had made on their lives.

Jimmy was a humble man who never sought attention or recognition for the things he did for others. He lived simply, worked hard, and quietly offered help wherever he recognized a need. His generosity extended far beyond the job site, often opening his home to those who had nowhere else to go. He believed in helping others while expecting nothing in return.

For more than 26 years, Jimmy shared his life with Sharron, building a home and a family rooted in love, compassion, and a willingness to care for others. When their lives came together, Jimmy found himself greatly outnumbered by the women in the family, a circumstance he accepted with the same quiet patience and good nature that made him so dearly loved.

As their family grew, Jimmy embraced his role as a grandfather wholeheartedly. His grandchildren brought him immeasurable joy, filling his days with fishing trips, four-wheeler rides, family outings, and countless memories that will forever be treasured. To them, he was simply Pawpaw, a man whose love was never measured by blood or circumstance, but by the time, patience, and affection he so willingly gave.

Together, Jimmy and Sharron created a home where family extended beyond blood relations, where friends were always welcome, and where someone in need could find a helping hand, a warm meal, or simply a place to belong.

Jimmy’s legacy will not be measured by material possessions or the recognition he received, but by the lives he touched, the opportunities he gave, and the love he shared so freely.

He spent his life building houses, but perhaps his greatest accomplishment was the lives he helped rebuild and the family he helped bring together.

Jimmy is survived by his loving wife, Sharron McNay Smith; his son, William Earl Smith; his daughters, Misty Dilmore, Christy Lynn Kelly, and Kayla Brown; and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren who will forever cherish his memory.

Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents, John Smith and Marie Smith Grantham; his brother, John Robert Smith; his sister, Lula Belle Smith; his infant son, James Jr.; and his daughters, Collissa Ann Wilkinson and Heather McNay.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 30, 2026, from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Mendenhall.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 10:00 AM at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Mendenhall. Burial will follow in New Zion Baptist Church Cemetery in Braxton. Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Mendenhall is in charge of arrangements, (601)847-4401.

An Online guestbook may be signed at www.colonialchapelmageemendenhall.com