James Henry Smith, III

Obituary For James Henry Smith, III

James Henry Smith, III was born on a beautiful summer day on July 21,1963 in Fort Pierce, Florida to James Henry Smith, Jr. and Carolyn Mackey Smith, who preceded him in death. The Mackey and Smith families hold a strong Bahamian lineage stemming from Andros, Cat Island, Eleuthera and the neighboring islands in and surrounding Nassau, Bahamas.

James Henry, as he was affectionately called, was the first of four children born from this loving marital union, and he was doted upon by all the family and friends. He was educated in St. Lucie County Public Schools and graduated from Fort Pierce Westwood High School, the class of 1981. During his time at Westwood Senior High School, he was fun loving, charismatic, genuine, and very sociably popular amongst his peers and teachers. He was an All-Conference Defensive End who was relentless in his athletic abilities as well as his academics and was a member of the Superior Rated High School Choir under the direction of Paula Vahooser.

Like many of the Smith children, James began taking music lessons at an early age. Notably, his most memorable instructors were Mr. Charles Grant while in 6th grade and Mr. Bennie Clark in 8th grade. His principal instrument was the flute. After high school James attended St. Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, VA where he studied Communications, and later graduated earning his B.A. degree.

After returning home from college, James Henry worked briefly as a store clerk for Sears and Roebuck, and then as a teacher for St. Lucie County Public Schools. He always kept himself busy and was never a lazy individual. After 32 years of exemplary service, he retired in 2019 from the Orange County, Florida Corrections after serving the people of Florida as a State Corrections Sergeant at Martin Correctional Institute and a Juvenile Detention Officer at the St. Lucie Juvenile Detention Center in Fort Pierce. Not wanting to remain idle in mind, body or spirit, James recently went back to work for the State of Florida as a Probation Officer in Orange County, Orlando, Florida.

James was a lifelong member of St. Simon’s Episcopal Church where he was baptized and confirmed. From the age of four he served as an acolyte, and as a young man devoted himself to serve as a Lay Eucharistic Minister. Even though as an adult, he lived away from his home church, James always remembered the Christian teachings of his grandparents, the late James Henry and ReAnn (Bastien) Smith, and Joseph and Marian Mackey which is summarized in Psalm 100 verse 2, which reads “Worship the Lord with gladness and come before him with joyful song!” James was very vocal about much he loved and cherished his family and his church, and he always found time to participate in services with his parents and siblings whenever he came home to Fort Pierce.

James was a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated, Delta Lambda Sigma Chapter, in Fort Pierce, Florida where he was a loyal and active member and true servant leader. He was overjoyed with love and pride when his one and only son, James Henry Smith IV was initiated into the same chapter, and they were able to attend monthly fraternity meetings and activities together.

James was a loving and caring father and friend who would bend over backwards to support all whom he loved.

Always known as a true friend, confidante, father, brother, and son, James Henry leaves to mourn his passing his one son; James H. Smith, IV, of Port St. Lucie, Florida, one daughter; Carsen Smith of Orlando, Florida, two brothers; Dr. Michael D. Smith (Davrye) Miami, FL, and Dr. Joseph E. Smith (Heather), one sister, Carolyn Denise Smith (deceased), four nephews Caleb Burke, Michael Jr., David James, and Joseph Jr., two nieces Laura-Marie Lindsey (Paul) of Sanford, NC, Millicent Natalia, and one grandnephew; Taylin Pierce Lindsey of Sanford, NC., Uncles; Howard Smith (Pat) and Ernest Smith of Nassau, Bahamas, Aunts Julia Mae Smith of Leesburg, FL, Sarah Smith, Dora Smith, and Prudensa Smith of Nassau, Bahamas, two step-sons Mr. Tierre Arrington and Mr. Ahmad Arrington and their mother Ms. Dorothy Davis, special cousins Shirley Chapman, Carolyn Mackey, and Joseph Mackey of South Carolina, Doris Mackey of Orlando, Fl., Debra Wheeler Allen of Fort Pierce, FL, Ian Smith, Lester Smith, Delcita Smith, Shandia Smith, Alberta Smith of Nassau, Bahamas, and a host of cousins and friends that are too numerous to name.

Public visitation for James Henry Smith, III will take place on Friday, June 10, 2022 from 3:00pm-7:00pm at Stone Brothers Funeral Home in Fort Pierce, FL which will be followed by the Omega Ceremony given by the men of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc beginning at 7:00pm. Funeral services will convene on Saturday, June 11, 2022 at St. Simon the Cyrenian in Fort Pierce, FL beginning at 10:00am.

Although many venues have opened and the restrictions of COVID-19 have been relaxed, we at Stone Brothers Funeral Homes are still enforcing the guidelines set forth by the CDC and FDOH to protect our families and our staff. We ask that you respect this, as it could very well save your life. We also ask that you acknowledge and execute the 6 feet social distancing guidelines as well.