Sylvester Smith, Sr.

Sylvester Smith, Sr. was born Tuesday, Dec. 15, 1959, to the late John L. Smith, Sr. and Earnestine Buchanan Smith in Luxora. He was a 1980 graduate of Luxora High School in Luxora and was raised and cared for by his loving grandmother, the late Robbie Smith, and his energetic aunt, Annie Smith of Luxora. Sylvester’s childhood was shaped and molded by all the time he spent with his very special cousins, Arthur Watkins, Robert (Sue) Watkins, Carl Hall, Clarence Smith, Don Smith, all of Luxora, Johnny Hall, Sr. of Jonesboro, and Donna (Jerome) Newmy of Blytheville.

After 20 years of courtship, Sylvester was united in holy matrimony to the late Bernice Campbell Smith on July 2, 2006, where they raised seven children, 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

He was employed at Lubin Enterprises for 38 years as a carpenter/craftsman/project supervisor and was also employed at the Blytheville Housing Authority for five years as a maintenance supervisor. Sylvester truly was gifted in his craft. He created wooden structures, furniture and could literally build a house from the ground up. Sylvester would occasionally undertake personal projects for citizens of the surrounding areas. He enjoyed working with his hands and seeing the fruits of his labor made construction enjoyable and fulfilling for him.

He took joy in cooking while spending time with family and friends. But BBQ cooking was not just grilling for him, it was one of the largest pleasures for him. He loved being surrounded by good friends and good BBQ. If it was edible, it was going on the grill and you could not tell him that he was not “King Of The Grill”.

On Monday, April 18, 2022, Sylvester transitioned from this earth at St. Bernards Hospital in Jonesboro. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Bernice Campbell Smith; father, John L. Smith, Sr.; mother, Earnestine Buchanan Smith; mother-in-law, Joyce DePriest; father-in-law, Nathan Campbell, Jr.; grandmother, Robbie Smith; brother, John L. Smith, Jr.; brother-in-law, Nathan Campbell, III; sister, Patricia James; great-grandson, Khazi King; special cousins, L.C. Smith and Brenda Sims.

His precious and loving memory will be cherished by seven children, Sylvester Smith, Jr. of Luxora, Tabitha Holloway of Southaven, Miss., Antonio Alexander of Osceola, Angelitha (Michael) Barbee of Jonesboro, Saundra (Michael) Walker of Luxora, Latoya Coleman of Luxora, Michael (NaTasha) Coleman of Huntsville, Ala.; five brothers, Rickey Smith of Jonesboro, James (Veronica) Smith of Lanham, Md., Earnest (Marilyn) Smith of Duncanville, Texas, Charles (Cassandra) Smith of Bowie, Md., and Alphonso (Betty) Smith of Benton Harbor, Mich.; nine sisters, Ella (Roy) Albert of Little Rock, Alice (Alvin) Bridgewater of Benton Harbor, Mich., Carolyn Smith of Blytheville, Vira Payne of Benton Harbor, Mich., Jaqueline Wilson of Grand Prairie, Texas, Linda Smith of Arlington, Texas, Tomaka Smith of Osceola, Barbara (Alexander) Norman of Rockhill, S.C., and Ora (Queen) Thurman of Luxora; 14 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two aunts; three sisters-in-law; five brothers-in-law; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held Saturday, April 30, from 12:00 (noon) until 12:55 p.m., at Zion Chapel in Luxora. Service will follow at 1 p.m. Burial will at Sandy Ridge Cemetery in Burdette.

PLEASE WEAR A MASK. We apologize for an inconvenience this may cause.

Services are provided by Gary Wolfe at Wolfe Brothers Funeral Home & Cremation, 634 W. Main Street, Blytheville, AR 72315, 870-900-0010.