Mr. John Charles Smith Jr.

SMITH, Mr. John Charles Jr. - Age 74, passed away Sunday, January 7, 2024, at VA Medical Center, Battle Creek, MI. Interment Great Lakes National Cemetery, G-4200 Belford Rd., Holly, MI. Mr. Smith will lie in state if the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd. and may be viewed from 12:00 PM-6:00 PM Thursday, January 25, 2024. Mr. Smith was Honorably Discharged from the United States Army. Mr. John Charles Smith Jr. was born October 9, 1949 in Flint, Michigan, the son of Rev. John Henry Rufus and Naomi Birdell Lyles Smith. John was raised in the St. John Street Community. He graduated from Flint Northern High School. John was a Postal Worker in Flint and when he lived in Jacksonville, FL. He also worked at the Jacksonville Golf and Country Club in the restaurant. John enjoyed traveling to St. Louis, MO, Oklahoma (visiting family & friends) and to Austin, TX. John joined the United States Armed Forces on July 23, 1969. He served as a Private & Military Policeman in Fort Riley, Kansas. John had special training and received a National Defense Medal for being a Sharpshooter (Pistol .45 caliver) and Expert (Rifle-M-14). He was Honorably Discharged on July 22, 1975. John enjoyed bowling and received several awards. He also enjoyed playing cribbage, pool and cards. John had a way of making people laugh. He was a comedian-genius. John had a personality that was unique and you knew when he was present. He moved to Battle Creek, MI and lived there until his health began to decline and moved into the Battle Creek VA Medical Facility until his passing. Mr. John Charles Smith Jr. leaves to cherish his memory: 2 sons, Micah Sawyer of Flint and Anthony Lyle Lee; 4 grandchildren, Ora Deloris and Lyle Shalom Lee, both of Huntington, AL, Taya O. Simone Sawyer and Maya Louise Sawyer; 3 sisters, Deloris H. Muhammad of Flint, Stella Mae Hill of Jacksonville, FL and Debra Denise Smith ; brother, Melvin Francis Smith, both of Flint; nieces, Trini Oneal of Virginia Beach, VA, Cheryl Ann Smith, Brandy Williams of Atlanta, GA and Ashia Reed; nephews, Ron Smith Johnson, Herman Smith Jr. Matthew B. Smith, Wynn Dell Smith, both of Hampton, VA Robert C. Evans and Quinton Reed, both of Flint; a host of other relatives and friends including, neighbor and caretaker, Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his son, Damien Perkins; parents, Rev. John Henry Rufus and Naomi Birdell Lyles Smith; sisters, Almeda Coffey, Shirley Naomi Smith and Doris Jean Smith; and brother, Anthony Maurice Smith. The family wishes to thank our relatives and friends for their kind expressions of concern and heartfelt sympathy during our bereavement. May God richly bless each and every one of you. A very special thanks you to Jackie Holmes, neighbor, caretaker and manager of his business, and her family who spent time with him, especially having John over to dinner. Also special thanks to a dear and loving friend, Rose Lee in Jackson, MS.

Mr. John Charles Smith Jr.

October 9, 1949 - January 7, 2024