Jerry Randolph Smith

Dr. Jerry Randolph Smith was born in Hazard, KY on May 20, 1930 to Edwin and Lucile Hollingsworth Smith. He was the second born of three children. He passed away peacefully at his home into the arms of His Lord and Savior on December 20th, 2025 after an extended illness.

His family moved to Louisville, Ky where Jerry graduated from Manual High School in 1948. He served in the United States Navy during the Korean War as a First Class Petty Officer (E-6) and Hospital Corpsman aboard the USS HYMAN. He married his high school sweetheart, Marietta Spangler, in 1951. Upon his return home from the Navy, he began dental school at the University of Louisville, KY. After graduating, he set up a private dental practice in Bardstown, Ky where he and Marietta raised three children, Alan, David and Carolyn.

In 1963, they felt called by God to do missionary work with Central Africa Christian Mission in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) Africa where they served for 11 1/2 years. Due to the great need for doctors, Jerry did further studies in Africa in order to attain a medical degree, adding to his dental and oral surgery degrees. There, Jerry worked primarily at the Mashoko Mission Christian Hospital and the Hippo Valley Estates Hospital.

Their family returned to the US December, 1974 due to the war in Rhodesia.. Jerry worked as a professor of medicine at University of Louisville for a few years, and eventually began a private practice in family medicine in Hodgenville, KY. He also worked in Springfield, Leitchfield, and Bardstown, KY. He later worked as a physician in Clearwater FL and as hospital Medical Director in Wauchula, FL before completing his medical career at Park Duvall, in Louisville, Ky. Jerry was a board member for Kentucky Christian College, Kentucky Christian Homes, and was named a Kentucky Colonel.

He and Marietta resettled in Columbus, Ohio in 2020 where he was a member at the Worthington Christian Church and a member of the Good News class.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Marietta Smith, his parents, Edwin and Lucile Smith, and his sister, Edwina Smith. He is survived by his three children, Dr. Robert Alan(Karen) Smith, David (Ada) Smith of Bardstown, KY, and Carolyn (Tom) Sherrod of Lewis Center, OH; grandchildren Amie (David) Robertson, Brent (Britney) Smith, Ryan Smith, Lauren (Adam) Fish, Timothy Sherrod, Mark (Kathleen) Sherrod, James Sherrod, Joy (Addison) Fehl; 17 great-grandchildren, brother Michael Smith of Shelbyville, Ky, sister-in-law Ida Spangler and nieces and nephew.

Jerry’s life was a life well-lived. With humility, generosity, and kindness he served others and he was a friend to many. He and Marietta welcomed people into their home from all walks of life, making their home rich with memories and times shared.

A funeral service for family and friends will be held on Saturday, January 3rd at 12:00 p.m. with visitation from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the chapel at Evergreen Funeral Home and Cemetery, 4623 Preston Hwy, Louisville, KY 40213 (502) 366-1481. Burial will follow immediately.

A Celebration of Life service will be held in Columbus, Ohio at the Worthington Christian Church, 8145 N. High St. Columbus, Ohio 43235 on January 5th, 2026. Visitation will begin at 4:00 p.m. with a service at 6:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Worthington Christian Church 8145 N. High St. Columbus, Ohio 43235 designated (memo line) for MISSIONS FUND to further the gospel around the world.