Extracted from The Mountain Call (Laurel, MS)
Saturday, August 17, 1929

FUNERAL FOR J. B. SMILEY HELD TODAY

Services This Morning at Smiley Residence

Funeral services for J. B. Smiley, former city commissioner who died Friday morning at 5 o'clock at his home on Thirteenth avenue and Sixth street, will be held from the residence Saturday morning at nine o'clock.

Mr. Smiley, who was 68 years of age, had been in ill health for more than two years, although his condition was not deemed serious until last Saturday when he was obliged to confine himself to bed.

Coming to this city in 1900, Mr. Smiley served in various capacities with the city and county government until his first term as city commissioner, to which office he was re-elected twice. His record for community service won him the respect of countless Laurel and Jones county people.

Mr. Smiley is survived by his widow, Mrs. Martha Staton [sic Slaton] Smiley, who was married to him in 1884; two children, Mrs. Preston Reddoch and Charley Smiley, both of whom live in Laurel.

Eight grandchildren: Elizabeth Smiley, Clifford, Spurgeon, Charles, Norbert, Eleanor Louise, Mattie Christine and Thurman Reddoch, and one great grandchild, James Clifford Reddoch; five brothers: E. M. Smiley of Heidelberg; C. P. Smiley and A. B. Smiley of Vossburg; J. H. Smiley of Shubuta, and L. G. Smiley of Basic City; and two sisters: Mrs. J. A. Thomas of Heidelberg, and Mrs. J. C. Slaten of Vossburg, also survive.

Funeral services will be conducted by the Rev. L. G. Gates, the Rev. W. S. Hellen, and the Rev. W. L. Compere. The following have been asked to serve as pallbearers: Active -- Mott Pearcy, R. M. Freeman, Charles Walters, M. H. Freeman, Vern W. Johnson and Barney Windham. Honorary -- W. O. Hedgepath, D. E. Beard, Jim Brown, George Lightsey, Oscar Buntyn, M. W. McLaurin, Ellis Ginsberg, A. D. Peden, G. W. Martin, Will B. Moore, Goode Montgomery and Lynn Keys.