James Harold "Jim" Smothers

James Harold “Jim” Smothers, age 81, resident of Oakland, Tennessee and husband of Carol Odom Smothers, departed this life on June 15, 2025 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

Jim was born on June 17, 1943 in Memphis, Tennessee, the son of the late Fredrick Bennett Smothers and Anna Lee Mills Smothers. He graduated from Messick High School in 1961 and served his country in the United States Army. He continued his education at Clark Junior College in Newton, Mississippi, William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisiana. Jim was married on August 26, 1963 to Mrs. Carol Lee Odom Smothers.

Mr. Smothers was a long-time funeral director. He started at Hinds Smythe Cosmopolitan Funeral Home in Memphis, continued at Thompson-Wilson Funeral Home in Wynne and McCrory, Arkansas and was most recently at Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes and Cremation Center in Somerville and Oakland.

Jim was a member of First Baptist Church in Oakland, Tennessee and was a Deacon, Sunday School teacher, and held children’s church where he also had a puppet ministry. He taught the Bible to students at Elliston Baptist Academy in Memphis. He never met a stranger and loved everyone. His hobbies included bowling, model trains, reading and studying his Bible. Jim will be remembered for special times with his family and friends.

Mr. Smothers is survived by his wife, Carol Lee Odom Smothers of Oakland, TN; two sons, Mark Smothers of Cordova, TN and Michael Smothers (Crista) of Cordova, TN; his daughter-in-law, Candace Smothers of Parsons, TN; his granddaughter, Kayleigh Smothers; and Yorkie named Charlie Brown.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Barbara Keen and brother, Charles Edward Smothers.

Funeral Services for Mr. Smothers were held at 3 P.M. Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel with Bro. Josh Escue, pastor of Oakland First Baptist Church, officiating. Remarks were given by Rudy Doyle, Mike Smothers, and Mark Smothers. Interment followed in the Fayette County Memorial Park Cemetery on Highway 64.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers were Odie Haggard, Thomas Clover, Rudy Doyle, Gary Hance, Ben Johnson and Brian Dufala.

The family requests that memorials be directed to Oakland First Baptist Church, 8695 US-64, Somerville, TN 38068 or The Gideons International, P.O. Box 212, Somerville, TN 38068.