James Irven Smith

James Irven Smith went to be with his Lord on Monday, September 28, 2020. He was a loving and devoted father, brother, and son. Mr. Smith was born on January 28, 1939, to Horace Lamar Smith and Minnie Velma (Shelton) Smith and grew up in Powderly, AL. He graduated from Jones Valley High School in 1957 and then attended Auburn University where he graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1962, while interning with US Steel. He acquired his Professional Engineering License in 1962. He then went to work for Brown Engineering in Huntsville helping to design the gantry for the Saturn V Rocket Program that launched America to the moon. He then worked at Rust Engineering, and later went in to sales at George S. Edwards Co. Mr. Smith married Sandra Kaye Pyron and they had two children. He attended Church of the Highlands Grandview where he rededicated his life to the Lord on January of this year. He worked out weekly at the Greystone YMCA and delivered food to needy families through the Shades Mountain Mission. He is loved by many and will be greatly missed. He is survived by his children, Scott Alan Smith and Ashley Denise Smith White (Philip) and his sisters, Charlotte Hall and Janell Smith and many nieces and nephews and friends. A celebration of his life will be held on October 5th, by the Rev. Brian Bagwell at Southern Heritage located at 475 Cahaba Valley Rd, Pelham, AL 35214. Visitation will begin at 12 pm and service to follow at 1pm. Interment will be held at Rock Creek Church of God Cemetery, 1001 Park Rd, Bessemer, AL 35023. The family suggest that memorials be made to the American Heart Association and Shades Mountain Mission.