OBITUARY — Payton Brant "Coon" Smith

PAYTON BRANT "COON" SMITH

March 14, 2002-Sept. 6, 2025

Funeral services for Payton Brant "Coon" Smith, 23, of Waynesboro, will 
be at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025 from the Chapel of Freeman 
Funeral Home, with Rev. Clay Conner officiating. Visitation will be from 
12-2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025 from the Parlor of Freeman Funeral 
Home.

Following the funeral service, interment will take place at Freeman 
Cemetery in Richton.

Born in Laurel on Thursday, May 14, 2002 to Aubrey Lee Smith III and 
Alysia C. Merritt, he worked as a Mechanic and Welder at Cason's.

He will be remembered as a kindhearted and extremely funny man with many 
talents. He loved to entertain family and friends with his goofy sense 
of humor.

His biggest passion was singing songs and playing one of the many 
guitars he had on stage, and with his musical talents his dream was to 
done day make it on the big screen.

His other passion was duck hunting and fishing with his friends and just 
living life to the fullest. He was and still is loved deeply by the many 
lives he's touched. If you had the pleasure of knowing Payton, you are 
truly blessed.

He died on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at his residence.

He is survived by his parents and their respective spouses, Aubrey Lee 
"Trey" and Caressa Smith III of Waynesboro, Alysica C. and Kenneth 
Merritt of Richton; his sister, Shelby Smith of Richton; two 
stepbrothers, Braxton Crager of State Line and Weston Garland of Yellow 
Pine, Ala.; his stepsister, Kendall Merritt of Richton; his 
grandmothers, Mary E. Vinces of Waynesboro and Kathy Smith of 
Waynesboro; three aunts and their spouses, Keri Smith, Tisha and Ken 
Schneider and Lila and Chris Kelley; and a host of cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Lee Smith, Jr., Curtis 
Porter and Joe Vines.

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

Freeman Funeral Home of Waynesboro is in charge of arrangements.