Ellis Smith

Mr. James Ellis Smith, age 71 of Adairsville, GA died Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at his home following several months of declining health. He was born in Floyd County on June 5, 1943, son of the late John Wesley and Birdie Estelle Nichols Smith. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by siblings, Mattie Fitzpatrick of Acworth, Wesley Smith, and Roy Clark Smith.

Mr. Smith was a veteran, serving his country in the US Navy. He was a graduate of Calhoun High School and Abraham Baldwin College where he received two Associate degrees. He owned and managed Ellis Smith Tractor Company for 11 years, and later retired from TSC Transport. In recent years, he was the coordinator for the Bartow-Gordon Glory Garden. He was past president of the Calhoun Optimist Club, and was a member of Grace Baptist Church of Calhoun.

Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Suellen Winkelman Smith; a daughter, Kerry Leigh Smith and her husband Francis William Coleman of Atlanta; siblings, Birdie Inglett of Rome, Irene Pressley of Marietta, Bonnie Smith Glenn of Fairplay, SC, Johnnie Mae Curry of Marietta, Joyce Kerce and her husband Dallas of Rome, and Harold Edward "Eddie" Smith and his wife Faye of Calhoun; a grandchild, na Coleman; and brothers-in-law, Owen Winkelman and his wife Karen of Cartersville, and Wesley Winkelman and his wife Tomalee of Kingston. Twenty-six nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral services to celebrate the life of Mr. James Ellis Smith will be held Sunday, February 1st at 4:00 PM from the chapel of Max Brannon and Sons Funeral Home, with Rev. Donnie Hudgens officiating. Interment will be Monday, February 2nd at 12:30 PM at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton with military honors. Active pallbearers are nephews and will include Jeff Curry, Richard Curry, Johnny Fitzpatrick, Rodney Smith, and Dallas Kerce. Honorary pallbearers are Kenneth Leonard and Don McLeod.

The Smith family will receive friends at the funeral home Sunday from 3:00 PM until the service hour of 4:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 672648, Marietta, GA 30006.

Condolences may be left online at www.maxbrannonandsons.com. Services for Mr. James Ellis Smith are under the care and direction of Max Brannon and Sons Funeral Home of Calhoun.