Ollie James Smith was born July 31, 1941 to the late James & Mary Smith in Lowndes County, MS.

At an early age, Ollie confessed his faith in Christ at Prairie Hill M. B. Church and later served at New Zion M.B. Church as a deacon.


Ollie graduated from R.E. Hunt High School.  He worked for Allied Moving & Storage Co. for 25 many years.  He worked for Holmes Transportation for several years. He loved fishing, hunting, and many outdoor activities.

Ollie was joined in Holy Matrimony to Penny Brown Smith on March 29, 2005.

Ollie Smith was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Augusta Smith; father, James Smith; son, Ollie Smith, Jr., and brothers, Mack Arthur Smith & Willie James Smith.

He leaves to cherish his memories:  his wife, Penny L. Smith; daughters, Rita Henry of Southaven, MS and Valerie Smith of Starkville, MS; sons, Bryant Staples of Columbus, MS and Sam Brown of LA; step-daughters, Sierra Bierliar of Columbus, MS and Dana Fulton of St. Louis, MO; sisters, Leola (Jesse) Sherrod, Annie (Clyde) Edwards, Mildred (Gatewood) Smith all of Columbus, MS and Shirlean (Roosevelt) Smith of Jackson, MS; brothers, Eugene (Brunetta) Smith of Forkfort, IL, Houston (Maxcine) Smith of Abilene, TX, Clarence (Marrion) Smith of Tupelo, MS, Melvin (Stephanie) Smith of Hattiesburg, MS, and Norris Smith of Columbus, MS; twenty-seven grandchildren; twenty-one great grandchildren; uncles, aunts, and a host of nieces and nephews; a special sister in law, Sally Tate.