Obituaries 07-18-24

ELVIS DEWAIN SNELLGROVE

July 22, 1956-July 9, 2024

Funeral services for Elvis Dewain Snellgrove, 67, of Waynesboro, were

conducted on Saturday, July 13, 2024 from Lowery Assembly of God Church

in Wayne County, with Rev. Michael Cooley officiating.

Interment followed at Lowery Cemetery in Wayne County.

Born in Waynesboro on Sunday, July 22, 1956 to Wesley and Mable

Snellgrove, he was a member of Lowery Assembly of God Church. He retired

as a Floor Hand with Rapad Drilling Company.

He died on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at his residence.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon Snellgrove of Pavo, Ga.; three

daughters and a son-in-law, Heather Snellgrove of Waynesboro, Brittany

Snellgrove of Pavo and Kimberly and Ira Schoffel of Tallahassee, Fla.;

his brother, Prentiss Snellgrove of Waynesboro; his sister and

brother-in-law, Fay and Gary Cagle of Pearl; seven grandchildren, Molly

Schoffel, Alexa Schoffel, Sid Schoffel, Kaleb McElhaney, Avery Curran,

Landon Snellgrove and Jaxon Dewain Snellgrove; and a host of nieces and

nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wesley and Mable Snellgrove;

and three brothers, Namon Ray Snellgrove, Sammy Earl Snellgrove and

Dwight Edward Snellgrove.

An online guestbook can be signed at www.freemanfh.com.

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.

JERRY SMITH

Feb. 29, 1936-July 9, 2024

Funeral services for Jerry Smith, 88, were conducted on Friday, July 12,

2024 from First Baptist Church of Waynesboro, with Dr. Steve Smith

officiating.

Interment followed at Serenity Gardens Cemetery in Waynesboro.

Born on Feb. 29, 1936 in the front room of his grandparents house in

Florence, he grew up in Jackson but graduated from Clinton High School,

where he was an outstanding athlete, setting state records in the mile

run and the 880-yard run. After graduating from high school, he attended

Mississippi College on a track scholarship. He later finished his

Accounting Degree from the University of Mississippi.

While working in Jackson at First National Bank in 1957, he met the most

beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on --- Dixie Kelley. They fell in

love and were married on July 16, 1957, spending 67 wonderful years

together.

He spent the first part of his professional life working in finance for

RCA and Whirlpool and, after graduating from Ole Miss, worked for

Faulkner Concrete Pipe Co. of Hattiesburg from 1974-1989. He later had

his own accounting practice and from 1993-2011 he worked as a Certified

Financial Examiner, auditing insurance companies across the nation.

He loved his country and faithfully served for 30 years. He started in

the Air Force Reserve as a young man and later served in the Army

National Guard. He was deployed during Operation Desert Storm.

Jerry loved his family and was a committed husband, father, grandfather

and great-grandfather. Spending time with his family was his favorite

thing. He loved helping them enjoy life. He was in the middle of every

family gathering, making them all laugh. He was passionate about

teaching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren about the things that

were most important in life. He taught with his words but, more

importantly, his example. Even in his last days, he never lost his sense

of humor.

One of his favorite things was enjoying God's creation. As a young

man, he was an Eagle Scout and, as an adult, served as Scoutmaster for

Troop 70 at Temple Baptist Church in Hattiesburg. He spent countless

hours backpacking with his two sons, enjoying some of the most remote

locations in North and South America.

He was a kind Southern Gentleman, always making other feel special. He

truly had the gift of encouragement.

He died on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, surrounded by his family.

He is survived by his wife, Dixie Smith; his sons and daughters-in-law,

Steve and Vidonia Smith of Waynesboro and Tim and Renee Smith of

Brandon; his granddaughters and their respective spouses, April and Joel

Snowden of Colorado Springs, Colo., Emily and Brian Miller of Durango,

Colo., Stephanie and Justin Wardwell of Kansas City, Kan. and Lauren and

Frank Andrade of Metarie, La.; and his six great-grandchildren, David

Castanza, Lennox Miller, Jonah Snowden, Jasper Miller, Gabriel Castanza,

Gage Wardwell, Elijah Allen and Ezekiel Allen.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Thelma Smith.

An online guestbook can be signed at www.freemanfh.com.

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro was in charge of arrangements.