James Alton Smith II

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The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him. (Proverbs 20:7) Surrounded by his family, James Alton Smith, II, passed peacefully into the loving arms of His Lord and Savior on May 26, 2021, in Baton Rouge, LA at the age of 77. A lifelong resident of Central, he was a graduate of Central High School, LSU (B.A., MEd), and LSU Law School (JD) and a 50-year member of the Louisiana Bar Assocation. An active member of Zoar Baptist Church since childhood, he taught Sunday School for 50 years. James was a man of character known for his honesty and immense integrity, both personally and professionally, "truth telling, truth speaking, truth living, and truth loving." James left private law practice in 1991 to join the Louisiana Attorney General's office where he became Louisiana's first, and its foremost. authority on Indian law and a friend to Louisiana's Tribal Councils, educating himself through much research and attendance at Western Attorneys General conferences. The pioneer in Indian law in Louisiana, James served as the Assistant Attorney General for Indian Affairs, served as Section Chief of the Gaming-Indian Gaming Section from 1998-2008, becoming Director in 2009. After officially retiring in 2012, he was rehired as Assistant Attorney General and expert Consultant on Indian law and gaming, continuing to serve the state and Louisiana's tribes until the present. Dedicated to all levels of the Kiwanis organization, he served in various leadership positions in the K Family, including the LaMissTenn District of Key Club, attending over 55 Key Club conventions; elected President of Circle K International, attending 55 consecutive Circle K conventions over his lifetime; and as a loyal member of Kiwanis as an adult, he had 52 years of perfect attendance at Kiwanis meetings through May 12, 2021. He cherished serving as Key Club Administrator, and in recognition of James' years of service to the K Family, the Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award was named in his honor. He was an avid hunter and fisherman who loved spending time outdoors on the family properties in Pride, LA and Choudrant, LA. An excellent cook and joke teller, his favorite indoor pastimes were watching the Hallmark Channel and old Western movies. With the same commitment he displayed in the other areas of his life, James was a devoted customer of QVC and relished his many "finds," especially the daily TSVs. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Merrilyn Bingham Smith, two daughters, Shannon Lee Smith Aaron (Billy), Kristyn Lynn Smith Carver (Kim), five grandchildren, William Ray Aaron, III, Julia Renee Aaron, Ellen Layne Carver, Caroline Mae Carver, Suzie Bly Carver, and one sister, Ellen Smith Frazier. He was preceded in death by his parents, J.A. Smith and Rubye Lee Taylor Smith. Visitation is at Zoar Baptist Church, 11848 Hooper Road, City of Central, LA, from 10:00 am -noon, Saturday, May 29, with services to follow at 12:00 pm. Pallbearers are Lieutenant Colonel Kenny Van Buren, Steve Landry, Jim Harp, Bobby Joe Milner, and Chad Jones; Honorary pallbearers are Jim Gross, Craig Shaffett, and Royce Bassett. Those who prefer to make a donation in lieu of flowers are requested to consider Lottie Moon International Missions % of Zoar Baptist Church or the Alzheimer's Association. Special thanks to Dr. Denzil Moraes, the cardiac unit at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Hospital, and his longtime primary care physician Dr. Maureen Jones. May we so live to enjoy that day when the Lord may say to us, "Well done thou good and faithful servant…enter thou into the joy of thy lord." (Matthew 4:7-8)