Earl Jones Smith, Jr.

Earl Jones Smith, Jr., 75, of Yanceyville, North Carolina, passed away on Thursday, December 8, 2022 at Commonwealth Senior Living at Stratford House in Danville, Virginia. He was born in Danville, Virginia on August 9, 1947. Earl was predeceased by his parents, Earl Jones Smith, Sr. and Edna Massey Smith of Yanceyville, North Carolina. He is survived by numerous cousins and many High School classmates who loved him dearly. Earl was a graduate of the Class of 1965 at Bartlett Yancey High School and remained fond of all of his classmates throughout his life. In his High School years, he was active in sports, and was an outstanding student. He is remembered for participating in high school football and basketball, as well as being President of his Beta Club and a member of the Monogram Club. Earl served on his Student Council in high school and his motto when graduating from Bartlett Yancey High School was "Live and let live". He attended the prestigious North Carolina Governor's School, and then attended his beloved University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In addition, Earl received a degree in International Studies / Spanish Studies at Winston-Salem State University. Earl was successful in the business and financial world, and always stayed true to, and followed the UNC Tar Heels. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves and received an Honorable Discharge. Earl was, and is, thought of fondly, by his many friends that he grew up with in Yanceyville, including Rick Frederick, Bobby Brewer, Russell Watlington, Jimmy Foster, the late Larry Stogner and many, many others, as an intellectual, ahead of his time, with a wonderful smile and charming wit. "Earl Junior" will be missed dearly by all of his friends. Earl can be remembered for his great love for his parents and his attentiveness to them in their elderly years. One of Earl's best friends, Rick Frederick, remembers him with great fondness and appreciation for Earl's intellect. Frederick stated, "after High School one day, I went to Earl Junior's house, which I regularly did. He was doing algebra homework, working on a crossword puzzle, had the television on with the sound turned off, and had Mozart playing on the record player.” Special friends of Earl's, Danny and Sylvia Johnson, are greatly appreciated for their kindness to him. The Commonwealth Senior Living at Stratford House in Danville, Virginia is greatly appreciated for their loving care of Earl. Graveside Services will be held at the Yanceyville Presbyterian Church on Sunday, January 8, 2023 at 2:00 PM. Wrenn-Yeatts Funeral Home of Yanceyville is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Earl Smith, Sr. and Edna Smith Scholarship Fund c/o The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Office of University Development, P.O. Box 309, Chapel Hill, NC 27514-0309.

Earl Jones Smith, Jr.

August 9, 1947 - December 8, 2022