The Rev. James I. Smith, 82, peacefully entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, October 11, 2016, at Lexington Health Care Center.

The funeral service will be Monday at New Zion Baptist Church, Clark Rd. at 2:00pm with family visitation an hour before the service. Burial will follow at Forest Hill Memorial Park.

Public viewing will be Sunday from 1:00 to 7:00pm at Roberts Funeral Service Lexington.

Rev. Smith was born Saturday, August 25, 1934 in Rowan County to the late Charlie Smith and Laura Dora Smith. He was a member of New Zion Baptist as an associate minister after retiring from Pastor of Oak Grove Baptist Church in China Grove. He was ordained by the late Rev. Moses Caldwell on July 12, 1984. He was a member of Eureka Lodge #45 A.A.S.R. He was a retired employee of Billing Trucking and Link Taylor.

Rev. Smith leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife, Marie V. Smith; two sons, Charles Smith and James Q. Smith; a daughter, Deborah Hoover; four grandchildren and two great grandchildren and a host of other relatives, friends and devoted church members.