Joshua Wayne Smith passed away on Monday, May 11th, 2020 at his home in Atoka, TN. He was born on November 19, 1981. He is survived by his wife Samara, his daughters Madalyn Elizabeth and Abigail Paige, his stepchildren Kyla Jane Landrum, Ayden Cole Landrum, Zachary Ryan Landrum, and Myles Zane Landrum, his father Robert and his stepmother Tina, his brothers Caleb (Gabby) and Kyle (Abby) and his grandmothers Mattie Smith and Sherry Stanfield. Samara is carrying their daughter Felicity Rose, who is due to be born in June. He has a long list of extended family members and friends. All family members listed live in the greater Memphis area.
Josh graduated from Houston High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Memphis, and a Master of Divinity degree from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. Josh’s greatest joy in his life was being a father. He and Samara were building a new life together with their children and preparing for the arrival of Felicity. When he was not at work as a counselor with the Tennessee Department of Corrections, he could be found spending time with his family. The family especially enjoyed hiking through nature together. Josh was a huge fan of the University of Memphis Tiger football and basketball teams. He also was a lifelong New York Yankee fan. As a child and as a young man he played football, basketball, and baseball, but baseball was his passion. He loved to pitch. He was also active as a cub scout and as a boy scout. When his playing days were over, he began to coach in little league. He walked the aisle and accepted Christ as Lord and Savior of his life at the age of 13 at Walnut Grove Baptist Church in Cordova. He will be dearly missed by all who loved him.
Funeral services will be held at 2 pm on Tuesday, May 19th at Family Funeral Care on Summer Ave. in Memphis. Due to social distancing guidelines brought about by COVID-19, the service will be private and limited to immediate family. He will be laid to rest at Memphis Memory Gardens on Raleigh-Lagrange Rd. Graveside services will also be limited to those who attended the funeral service. The family extends its sincere thanks to all of those who have reached out to us in so many ways to express their love and support. You have meant so much to us and have helped us as we go through the grieving process. It breaks our hearts to have to limit the number that can attend because we know that so many of you want to demonstrate your love for Josh and/or the family by being there to support us. However, it would break our hearts even more to have someone catch this virus and be sick or die as a result. We pray that you will understand and will continue to support us with your prayers. They mean so much to us as a family. The service will be broadcast on Facebook Live for those that would like to participate through that venue.
https://www.facebook.com/Family-Funeral-Care-168960939785038/
For those that would like to donate in Josh’s name in lieu of sending flowers, the family requests that you do so to your charity of choice.
