James "Jim" Carl Smith

It is with deep sorrow and love that we announce the passing of James Carl Smith, on January 26, 2026, at the age of 66. Jim was a devoted husband, cherished family member, and treasured friend who touched many lives with his generosity and warmth.

Born on June 25, 1959, in Camden, New Jersey, Jim graduated from Patrick Henry High School in San Diego in 1977. He joined the Navy where he served 4 years with distinction. He was a crewman on the P-3 Naval aircraft and survived a crash into the Arctic Ocean where he was rescued by a Russian trawler and taken to Kodiak, Alaska. He briefly served as an Air Traffic Controller during the early Reagan presidency. In the 1990’s, he served as a volunteer fireman in northern California, then moved to San Diego, working as a manager at Kearney Mesa Towing.

Jim met the love of his life, Mary Jane, in April of 2001 and they married on July 8, 2003, at a Las Vegas drive-thru wedding chapel. In 2012, Jim supported his wife in a job relocation to Virginia and drove long-distance trucking at this time. In 2014, they moved to Charlottesville/Palmyra where Jim enjoyed working for the USPS and as a Sentara courier before joining the welcome team at the University of Virginia Medical Center in 2024 where he was known for his generous spirit, sense of humor, and ability to make everyone he met feel special.

In his leisure time, Jim enjoyed playing golf and shopping at Cosco (or “Price Club,” as he called it). He had a soft spot for his furry friends and was a beloved member of the dog-walking community at Lake Monticello.

Jim is survived by his loving wife, Mary Jane “MJ” Smith; daughters Jackie Fernandez, Susan Cameron, and Jyoti Roth; and five grandchildren: Izek, Ivy, Patrick, Esther, and Isla. He was preceded in death by his parents William and Marian Smith, son Michael Roth, and his sister.

A visitation for Jim will be held on Monday, February 2, 2026m from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Teague Funeral Service, 2260 Ivy Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903 where family and friends are invited to celebrate Jim’s life and share memories. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lake Monticello Volunteer Fire and Rescue at https://lmvfr.org in his honor.

Jim will be deeply missed but forever remembered with love and gratitude.