James Henry Smith

James Henry Smith, 90, passed away peacefully on April 28th, 2026. James was born September 29th, 1935 to the late Roscoe and Lillian Smith.

James graduated from Boonville High school in 1954 and later that year married Gaynelle Moxley. From 1955 to 1956 he played professional baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies Organization and then in 1957 played with the Kansas City Athletics Organization. During spring training in 1957 he pitched against Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. He was a big sports fan and enjoyed watching any and all sports on television. James was drafted into the US Army in 1958 while achieving an E5 rank. He was an Army Ranger stationed in Korea and served 2 years in the Korean conflict. While in Korea he helped finish up the DMZ.

James was a member of Deep Creek Friends Meeting where he attended regularly until his health started to decline. During his early years James served on many boards and divisions. He was on the Board of Directors for the Cattlemen’s Division. James was the Assistant President of Yadkin County Pork Producers. He was a member of the Boonville Jaycees and he also served on the Boonville School PTA committee. He was also on the Yadkin County Farm Bureau Board of Directors.

James was a 3rd generation avid farmer. He enjoyed taking care of his cows and he was known to cure some of the best tobacco you’ve ever seen or smelled. Some say he could even cure kudzu. James was awarded outstanding young farmer in his early years and he and Jeffrey were awarded Farmer of the year for Yadkin County in 2017.

Along with his parents, James was preceded in death by his wife, Gaynelle Smith, son, Gary Smith, granddaughter, Heather Smith, brothers, Gray (Cora Evelyn) Smith, Aubrey (Mary) Smith Sister, Audrey (Charles) Holcomb, niece, Christine Bryant, great grandson, Elijah Ray Swaim, sister-in-law, Laura Smith and brother-in-law, Red Powers.

Those surviving and left to cherish his memory are his son, Jeffery (Becky) Smith, daughter, Jeannie (Terry) Hemiller, grandchildren, Maggie Smith, Carla(Andy) Melton, Amber (Brandon) Walker, and Will (Alethea) Smith, great grandchildren, Addie Melton, Brady Harvey, Lane Melton, Bryson Walker, Raiden Smith, and Warren Walker, sister, Kathryne Powers, brother, Bobby Lee Smith and brother-in-law, Gray Moxley, many nieces, nephews, and cousins and a special friend and caregiver, Vicie Caudle.

The family will visit with friends on Thursday, April 30, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at Gentry Family Funeral Service in Yadkinville. Mr. Smith will lie in state prior to the visitation on Thursday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Funeral services will be held on Friday May 1, at Gentry Family Chapel at 2:00 PM with Rev. Randy Quate officiating, burial with military honors will follow at Deep Creek Friends Meeting Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mountain Valley Hospice or Deep Creek Friends Meeting.