Mr. Rodney Leon Smith, 51

Services for Mr. Rodney Leon Smith, 51, who died June 30, were held July 7 at Piney Grove Cemetery in Denton with the Rev. William Prince and Elder Lankin McRae presiding.
Mr. Smith was born April 4, 1970, in Hazlehurst. He was the son of the late Hozell Smith Jr. and Gussie Mae Smith. At an early age, he joined Piney Grove Baptist Church. He moved to Vidalia after marriage and moved his membership to New Vision.
He graduated from Jeff Davis High School, where he was a star basketball player, receiving a scholarship to play basketball at South Georgia College. He was employed at Hazlehurst Mills and Core Civics as a correctional officer until his health failed. In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing and hunting.
He is survived by his wife of 15 years Terri McRae-Smith of Vidalia; sons Stacey Smith of Fitzgerald, Shannon Smith (devoted friend Meka) of Hazlehurst, Juan Salas-Smith of Del Rio, Texas, Alfred Andrews, Christopher Andrews, and Sholo Bush all of Vidalia; five daughters Ataly Salas-Smith of Del Rio, Texas, Kimberly Bush and Einizijiah Brewton both of Atlanta, Jessica Carter of Hazlehurst, Stacy Clarke and Taleeva Bush both of Vidalia, Destini Bush of Reidsville; special mother Gayle Wooten of Brunswick; grandmother Francis Smith of Vidalia; sister Naomi Smith of Hazlehurst; brothers Jonathan Smith (devoted friend Pam), Donathan Smith (Marquita) both of Hazlehurst, Rico McKever of Knoxville, Tenn.; adopted brother Steven Hamilton (Danielle); uncles Rufus Carter of Hazlehurst, Terrell Rountree of Orlando, Fla.; aunts Mary Lois Kurtz of Atlanta, Joanne West of Douglas, Jennifer Rountree-Lovett of Orlando, Fla., Emma McKever and Eather McKever, both of Hazlehurst; sister-in-laws Valerie Dekle (Butler) of Metter, Carletha Powell (Leon) of Reidsville, Deborah Dunlap of Charlotte, N.C., Sylvia Carswell (Marty) of Reidsville; brother in laws Roosevelt McRae of Reidsville, and Lankin McRae (Kelly) of Lyons; a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Active pallbearers were Nathan McKever, Darrell Wright, Alton Stripling, Jarmaraus Bouyer, Dewayne Phillips and Corey Griggs.
Honorary pallbearers were Marty Carswell, Jimmy Mobley and friends of the family.
King Brothers in charge of all arrangements.