James Edgar J.E. Smith, Jr., 84 of Ronda, passed away May 8, 2010 in the Pallitive Care Unit at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. Mr. Smith was born August 9, 1925 in Wilkes County to James Edgar and Nina Walker Smith. He served in the US Army during WWII and served in the Battle of the Buldge where he was captured and was a POW for the three months. Mr. Smith was a lifetime member of the Hamptonville VFW Post. He was a graduate of Ronda High School and was retired from Fiber Industry of Salisbury. Mr. Smith was an active member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his son, Gary Edwin Smith and a grandson, James Lance Holbrook. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Margaret Eddie Mickel Smith; a daughter Hilda Gay Holbrook and husband Maynard of Ronda; a daughter-in-law Elaine Smith Williams and husband Buford of Ronda; three grandchildren, LaDonya Pope of Winston Salem, Jennifer Ayres of Bluffton, SC, and Jamie Hall of Ronda; and four great grandchildren, Emily Ayres, Lydia Ayres, Bradley Pope and Kayte Hall. A funeral service will be conducted Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 3:00 pm at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church with Rev. Dennis Murphy and Rev. Rex Walker officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with full military honors provided by the Hamptonville VFW Post 10346. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Elkin Funeral Service. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Veteran Memorial Fund in his honor, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Attn: Veteran Memorial Fund, 3982 Clingman Road, Ronda, NC 28670.
