Wallace Octavius Smith
October 3, 1935 – August 19, 2024
Wallace Octavius Smith of Smithville, Arkansas, 88, died peacefully the morning of August 19, 2024, in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Octavius was born to Wallace Albert and Elver Etta (Jines) Smith near Ravenden, Arkansas on October 3, 1935. He lived a full and meaningful life as a person of abiding faith in Jesus Christ. He was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and great- grandfather (Pawpaw), friend, and caring servant to his neighbors and community.
Octavius was a lifelong learner and educator. He graduated from Sloan- Hendrix High School in Imboden, Arkansas in 1953 and went on to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. He served as a high school agriculture teacher in Marianna, Arkansas; an elementary school teacher and Principal in Black Rock, Arkansas; and completed his 32-year career as a public-school educator at his alma mater, Sloan-Hendrix, in 1992. A beloved teacher and colleague, he was regularly approached by former students he encountered in the community who expressed their appreciation for his positive influence on their lives. He also served his community as a member of the Arkansas Army National Guard, where he attained the rank of Staff Sergeant, and was recognized for his exemplary leadership of Soldiers as a Noncommissioned Officer.
Octavius was a devoted Christian and man of God who lived out his faith with an attitude of thanksgiving. He served those around him with grace and humility without judgement or a sense of self-righteousness. He was a member of the Imboden Baptist Church for fifteen years and the Smithville Baptist Church for nearly five decades, where he served faithfully as a Deacon and beloved Sunday School teacher. He also drew strength from the beauty of creation. He was a hard-working farmer who found great joy in raising cattle, horses, pigs, and chickens, cutting wood, and producing hay and a large garden. The Smith’s farm, Trail’s End, has served as both a refuge and the center of family life for multiple generations.
Octavius is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 62 years, Judith Anne (Phillips) Smith; his beloved sons and daughters-in-law Wallace and Vanessa (Kidd) Smith, Keith and Tammy (Randolph) Smith, and Scott and Elizabeth (Ronald) Smith; grandchildren, Nathan, Alex, Austin, Jacob, AJ, Evan, and Elena Clare; great-grandchildren, Carter and Stetson (inbound); and his siblings Eva Harden of Mount Juliet, Tennessee and Marietta Martin of Gautier, Mississippi. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Lyla, Lorna, Joyce, Victoria, Steve, and Vesta.
His life and faith will be celebrated on Saturday, August 24, 2024, at Smithville Baptist Church with visitation from 9-11 a.m. and a funeral service beginning at 11 a.m. He will be laid to rest at Hope Cemetery in Imboden upon completion of the service. The family sincerely thanks all of those in the community for their love and support and request donations to the Smithville Baptist Church Building Fund in lieu of flowers.
Honored to serve as pallbearers are Austin Smith, AJ Smith, Nathan Smith, Jacob Smith, Jared Smith, and Brent Files.
Honorary pallbearers are the deacons of Smithville Baptist Church.