Lester Franklin Smith

Lester Franklin Smith, 63, of Jacksonville, Florida, passed away peacefully at home on December 20, 2017, after several years of major health issues. He has lived in his home for the past 38 years. Lester was born on January 7, 1954, in Lawton, Oklahoma. As a child Lester and his family lived in Wilmington, NC. In 1960 his family relocated to Jacksonville, Florida. He is the only son of Milford Durwood Smith and the late Flora Alice Smith (Goad).

Lester attended Lake Lucina Elementary, Arlington Junior High, and graduated from Terry Parker High School in1972. He attended Florida Junior College at Jacksonville and earned his Associate’s degree in 1975. Then in 1980 he graduated from the University of North Florida with his Bachelor of Arts in Education. Mr. Smith taught Social Studies at a private school and also Ribault Middle School. After that, he worked as a prison guard at UF Health Jacksonville. He retired after 17 years as a case manager at Sutton Place Behavioral Health in Nassau County.

Lester enjoyed playing guitar for most of his life and was quite skilled at it, also teaching guitar lessons. He recorded ten CD’s on his own that included both singing and skillfully playing his guitar. Lester also liked fishing and maintaining his own private garden. Lester also produced the Southern City Showcase in a west side theater, being quite proud of this accomplishment.

The most important decision that Lester Smith ever made was making Jesus Christ the Savior of his life. He was saved as a child at First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Florida, at that time under the leadership of Homer Lindsay, Sr. He is survived by his father, Milford Durwood Smith of Orange Park, Florida; two children: Benjamin Smith (Andrea) of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and Natalie Burch (Chris) of Bryceville, Florida; three grandchildren: Simon Smith, Sidney Smith, and Hunter Burch; two siblings: Linda McCall (Glyn) of Jacksonville, Florida, and Martha Tumelson (Jim) of Edmond, Oklahoma, and a host of other relatives, family, and friends.

Lester was always more concerned about the welfare of others than his own declining health and this was very evident in his conversation. He was very proud of his children and always spoke of them often in radiantly glowing terms. He will be greatly missed by all those that knew and loved him, but we know where he went. Goodbye, Lester. We’ll catch up to you later. But we know for now that you are no longer suffering, because you got a body transplant on December 20.

A graveside service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 7, 2018 at Hardage-Giddens, Riverside Memorial Park, 7242 Normandy Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida 32205.

HARDAGE-GIDDENS, RIVERSIDE MEMORIAL PARK and FUNERAL HOME, 7242 Normandy Boulevard is serving the family.