Emmett J. Smith

April 23, 1961 – March 9, 2021

Service

Saturday, March 20, 2021

Family Visitation: 10:00 A.M.

Funeral Service: 11:00 A.M.

Held at

Nelson & Sons Chapel Murfreesboro

448 East Burton Street

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

In lieu of flowers we respectfully ask that you honor Emmett by donating to our son’s Education
Fund. Donations can be forwarded via Venmo (search – Emmett Smith’s Education Fund)
Direct Link: Venom.com/Laurie-Smith-359, or donations can be forwarded to:
P.O. Box 111664 Nashville, TN 37222.
Thank you for your Prayers!

Emmett J. Smith Jr. experienced his last sunset on Tuesday March 9th, 2021. He was the son of Emmett Smith Sr. and the late Flora Lee Smith, the second son of 6 siblings.

He was preceded in death by his mother Flora Lee Smith, sister Jill, and brother’s Freddie and Julius.

Emmett was survived by his wife Laurie, sons Desmond, Cassius, and Eli. His father Emmett Smith Sr., sister Margo, brother Randy, aunt Eunice, mother-in-law Barbara, niece(s) Staci, Chanell, Shaquita, Brandy, nephew(s) Jacob, Cornelius, Stevie, Freddie, Jay, Ken, brother & sister-in-law Tim & Karen, best friend Mike, family friend Maxine and many other cousins, colleagues, work and business partners.

When I first met Emmett he loved to impress me with his creative talents and simultaneously try to get me to have Bible Study with him. I wasn’t quite ready for Bible Study but he kept working on me and helped facilitate my re-dedication to Christ. He was cool like that, he wouldn’t beat you over the head with the Bible but was always open and ready to share the Word. He spent his early years at First Apostolic Church of Inglewood, in Inglewood CA and his later years in one-on-one communion with God.

He was an excellent cook which his three sons inherited. He was an artist, a gun aficionada, loved classic music (Frank Sinatra), old westerns and the complete analysis of the movie The God Father. He was also one of the smartest men I knew, IQ through the roof. He’d recently stopped drinking coffee but prior was a total connoisseur of a good cup of coffee and a glass of 1856. He loved a good game of dominos, which he’d start off by saying “I’m going to destroy you”, and in my case would proceed to do just that. We had some really good times with friends and family over a table of dominoes.

Emmett spent most of his career self-employed. He worked hard and loved hard.

He was outgoing and loved on the women in his family. He missed his mother so much. He was the type of momma’s boy which made him extra protective of ‘all’ the women in his life. I’d have to be careful of telling him when a female in the family was having problems because he’d go straight into fight mode and ready to eliminate any and all obstacles. I/we loved him for that, it made us feel like the world could not touch us because my hubby had our backs.

If you spoke with him for more than a few minutes his family would always be the highlight of his conversation. He loved us so much.  He loved taking photos and videos of the boys. He’d get so frustrated with me when we’d come home and share our days adventures with no pictures to show.  Now I see why, he knew his days would be short and he wanted to make sure we had as many physical memories as possible. We have so many videos that we are starting to catalogue them. Hearing his voice makes us laugh and cry at the same time.

Emmett and his brother Freddie had HUGE hearts. They’d run across a family living in their car and go on a mission to get them food and connect them with employment. So many times they’d purchase bags of food and hand it out under the bridges here in Nashville.  They understood that giving does not have to be overly organized, when you have open communication with God, you consult with Him and then get busy. Those Smith brothers were something else.

Emmett and I had 25 years together and I thank God for the time. We especially thank God for allowing us to be right by his side as He ushered him Home.

Thank you Lord for your Mercy and continued Grace as we learn to live without our Emmett, the husband, son, father, brother, uncle and friend from heaven!