Lonnie Smith, 96, passed away on Friday, February 9, 2024. He was born and reared in the Russellville area of Franklin County.
Visitation will be at Pinkard Funeral Home in Russellville from 12-1 p.m. on Thursday, February 15, with his funeral to immediately follow at 1 p.m. Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery.
Living in Franklin County all his life, Lonnie would walk most everywhere he went. While on these walks, he was the "social butterfly" of Russellville, regularly stopping in and talking to everyone and making many dear friends throughout his long life. Lonnie worked many years with Grissom's Farms doing farming and many other tasks on the farm. He was a Baptist by faith and a member of Second Baptist Church, but would worship with First Baptist also.
Lonnie was preceded in death by his parents, Claud and Callie Lloyd Smith and sisters, Alberta Chitwood and Lena Mae McCullough.
Lonnie loved being with his many cousins, family members and friends, and although he will be deeply missed by them all, he will be happily remembered for his energetic smile and personality. There could never be enough space to list all those friends and family that loved Lonnie and were loved by him, but some include his beloved cousins, Eva, Willie, Linda and Eeka Graham, Alis Andrea Groves, Allison Orr Jones, Sheryl Hill and Marcus Hill.
His many close friends included Mr. and Mrs. Horace Mullins, who shared many breakfasts with Lonnie; Jake Young, who transported him to the senior center and Cathy Garrison from the senior center; Terry Groce, who shared every Sunday at church next to Lonnie; his caregiver, Peggy Newell; Sean Willingham and Buddy Thompson, who gave Lonnie many haircuts; Lonnie's right-hand man and caregiver, Will Hamilton; Tom Hamilton, who would take him to Tennessee and to town; Robert Grace, who was Lonnie's football friend and many countless more who loved being around Lonnie.
To all those wonderful family members and friends who gave love and care to Lonnie, please know we thank you and share much love for you all.
See complete story in the Northwest Alabamian.
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