Gerald Ode Smith

Funeral services for Bro. Gerald Ode Smith, age 87, will be held 1:00 pm Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at First Baptist Church of Bemis with Bro. Tim Sanderson and Bro. John Gaters officiating. Visitation with the family will be from 5:00- 7:00 pm on Monday, February 9, 2026 and 12:00- 1:00 pm prior to the service on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. Interment will follow at Ebenezer Cemetery.

Bro. Smith was born November 22, 1938, in Covington, TN to the late Samuel Smith and Sadie Bell Smith. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Linda M. Graves Smith; seven brothers and two sisters. 

He is survived by his daughter, Melanie Dawn Mann (Richard); grandchildren, Benjamin David Mann, Nathanael James Mann (Amie).

Bro. Smith was a graduate from Union University (1962) and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (1970). He served 60 years in ministry in West Tennessee. He pastored Beech Grove Baptist and Clear Creek Baptist Churches, in Dyer; First Baptist Church, Trimble; Bethel Baptist Church, Greenfield, and Madison Baptist Church, Jackson. After retirement, he served three interims before "filling in" for sixteen years at New Home Baptist Church in Henderson. He also worked two years at Smith Funeral before nineteen years with Lawrence-Sorensen Funeral Home. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to Comforter Ministry at First Baptist Church of Bemis at 116 Bemis Ln Jackson, TN 38301 or Blue Mountain Christian University at 201 W Main St Blue Mountain, MS 38610.