Adam Leroy Smith, Jr.
October 8, 1942 ~ July 18, 2008
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Adam "Leroy" Smith, Jr., 65, of Asheville, died on Friday, July 18, 2008, at the John F. Keever Hospice Solace Center.
A native of Burke Co., Mr. Smith was a son of the late Leroy and Mildred Secrest Smith.
Mr. Smith had worked as a District Manager for the Brown & Williamson Corp., retiring in 2001. He was an avid member of the Mountain Flyers Club, where he served as Secretary on the Board of Directors. Mr. Smith was a proud supporter of Asheville Street Baptist Church, of Morganton. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, serving in Vietnam.
Mr. Smith is survived by his wife, Janet Williams Smith; sons, Adam Leroy Smith, III, of Graham, and Stephen Allen Smith and wife Angela Adams Smith, of Charlotte; sister, Linda Moore and husband Walter, of Morganton; brothers, Robert Smith, of Gastonia, and Donald Smith and wife Ruhama, of Morganton; and beloved mother-in-law, Henriette Pons Williams.
A memorial service for Mr. Smith will be at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Groce Funeral Home chapel on Patton Ave. with the Rev. Doug Goforth officiating.
His family will receive friends following the service at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Asheville Street Baptist Church, 107 Colony Drive, Morganton, NC 28655, or to a charity of one's choice.
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Our heartfelt sympathy to Janet,
Steven & Adam on the passing of Leroy.We will always remember your Family as best friends & neighbor anyone could ask for.
Our prayers are with you during the loss of your husband and father. Leroy will be missed by many people. You are a strong family enduring something only God can help you through. My wife and I love each of you and we stand ready to help you.
Our sincere sympathy to all of Leroy’s family. It is an honor to have known him.
I would like to extend my sympathy to Leroy’s family. As the kind folks at Hospice once advised me: LEAN into your grief. You cannot go over it, under it or around it. You must go THROUGH it. I worked with Leroy for many years. He was a kind man, full of life and energy.
Janet, I read of Leroy’s passing in today’s News Herald and wanted to extend my deepest sympathy to you and the children. Wilma and Kenneth Head
Leroy was a special person, one you always liked to see. He was always in a good mood and glad to see you. He was very proud of his family. He would always bring me up to date on his two fine boys, men today. He also loved his wife dearly and I know the family will miss him terribly. My wife Mary Jo and I want to tell the entire family how sorry we are for your loss. I’m sure Leroy is in Heaven and someday we will all join him for eternity. GOD bless all of you.
I would like to send my sincere condolences upon Leroys passing.
I worked with him at B&W when he was in the military department and he was refered to as ‘FIREBALL SMITH’ upon his younger racing days.
He was a good friend and taught me a lot.
Mike Manning
We are very sadden to hear this news but very blessed that we got to be a part of (I’Roy’s) Leroy’s life.
We love you Janet very much.
Giselle And Steve
We are so sorry for your loss. Leroy was a great guy to know and to have the pleasure to work with. He will be greatly missed. Bill Cox
I was so sorry to hear about the passing of Leroy. He was a wonderful man and I will never forget the years I spent working with him at B&W…especially his always calling me ‘kid!’ There are so many memories that bring a smile to my face. He was much loved and respected and it was an honor to call him a friend!
My heart aches with all of you in the loss of Leroy. He was just like another brother to me, simply the best! I am remembering you in my prayers. Love, ‘Pat Who?’
I extend my deepest sympathies to Leroy’s family.
Leroy and I shared a small office in Asheville when I was with Brown & Williamson. He was a great office-mate and friend always. I’ve been very fortunate to have known him. Leroy will live on in the hearts of everyone he has touched. Rest in peace my friend.
Dear Janet and Family,
Please accept our love and heartfelt sympathy. Our prayers are with you during these difficult days.
We will always remember the good times at the ballfields when our children were growing up. ‘The Smiths’ always seemed to fill the stands! Over the years, it was so much fun wherever we happened to see him, to hear Leroy say, ‘Hi, Mrs. Smith’ and my response of, ‘Hi, Mr. Smith’!!
He will be missed. Love to you all.
Our hearts were certainly saddened when we heard of Leroy’s fight ending. Although for a brief time, we so enjoyed knowing him ‘on the lake’. Janet, we came to know you and Leroy and have called you friends since. We extend our love to you and your family. Chip and Sue
Our sympathy to Janet, Steven and Adam. Our prayers are with you and the family. Leroy was a great ‘Office Buddy’ and friend. There will always be great memories with all of the people that Leroy touched.
I would like to send my condolences to Janet and the family. Leroy was a great boss. I cherish many fond memories of working for him. He lives on in our hearts.
My father died this very week last year so I am with you…..
Sincerely,
Vicki Woolfork
MY HEARTFELT SYMPATHY GOES OUT TO HIS WIFE JANET AND BOTH OF HIS BOYS STEPHEN AND ADAM. I KNOW YOU EACH WILL MISS HIM DEARLY, BUT I’M SURE HE IS IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE. MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS EACH OF YOU IN THIS TIME OF NEED!
Please accept our love and heartfelt sympathy. Our prayers are with you during these difficult days.
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. We truely enjoyed Leroy. His laugh was so precious! We loved watching him on his jet ski (he only knew one speed, wide open)! Your family is very special and we love you.
My deepest symmpathy and prayers go out to Janet and Leroy’s family at this time. Leroy was a constant inspiration to me when I worked for
him with his quick wit and tremendous energy.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time. Leroy was a great gentleman, he will be missed.
Our sincerest condolences on your loss. Leroy was a fine person and good friend and he will be missed
Leroy was the best to work with as he knew how to have fun but still get the job done. We will greatly miss him but are honored to have had such a good friend. I want to say Thank You to Leroy and Janet for everything that they have done. Their kindness and friendship to me and my family will always be cherished.
Mrs. Janet, Adam and Steve, Mr. Leroy is a great memory of growing up in Bent Creek with you guys. Scott and I were just talking about him over the weekend. May God bless your family always.
Love, Phil McDowell
Dear Janet and family, You all have our prayers and our sympathy during this time of great loss. The picture of Leroy in The News Herald newspaper here in Morganton was good. He had not changed in years. We know that you have a lot of wonderful memories to cherish. Love, Jack and Beverly Hyatt (Janet, I hope to see you soon. Love, Beverly)
Dear Janet & Family,
We are praying for all of you and yours. God Bless You Always and in all ways.
Please accept our sincerecondolences in thisdifficult time. Ourthoughts and prayers arewith you.Coach & Mom
I first got to know Leroy when we were both taking flight lessons!
He was a little further along in his training and was a great help to me! Praise the Lord Jesus Christ Leroy has no need for an airplane now! He can fly without one! I pray the Holy Spirit brings comfort to all of you in Leroy’s dear family! I have and will be praying for you!
Dear Janet, Adam, and Stephen
Diane and I cannot adequately convey our heartfelt sadness for your loss. Our prayers will continue to be with all of you. I loved Leroy like a brother. He was ‘one-of-a-kind’, and a Legend for his accomplishments. May God continue to bless your family.
Love Jerry and Diane
Please except my heartfelt condolences. You all are in my prayers.
Sorry we can not be there but you are in our prayers. We Love you.
We were so sad to hear the news. It seems we just saw Leroy at the grocery store a few months ago. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Love,
The Webb Family
I don’t know how to express the sadness I feel right now. Leroy was a wonderful man, boss, and friend. He took me under his wing when I worked for B&W and helped me with my career. He always had a smile on his face, a twinkle in his eye and a crazy sense of humor. I will miss him dearly. My prayers are with you Janet and the boys during this difficult time. God Bless.
Leroy was a fine individual. It was a pleasure to have known him. My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this most difficult time.
Our sincere sympathy goes out to your family. We will always remember that mischievious grin that Leroy wore so well! May God comfort you and keep you.
Love, Pam & Katrina
Janet,
I am so sorry for your loss. It has been many years since I have seen you or Leroy but I still remember both with great love in my heart. I will keep you and the boys in my prayers. Love Ya Sharon
Our sympathies go out to all of you, Janet, Adam, Stephen and the entire family. We truly know the heartbreak of the loss of a beloved family member, and our hearts are with you in your grief and sadness.
My sympathy to Leroy’s family. He was a very good family man, hard worker and a friend. I am so sorry he suffered with his cancer, but he is no longer in pain and is now at home with our Lord. My love to you all.
Many memories from Vietnam. I’ll always remember you, Smitty. Rest in peace.