Jack Smith

ABINGDON – Jack C. Smith, beloved Food City founder and chairman of the board, passed away Thursday at his home in Abingdon following a brief illness.
Smith, 81, was born Aug. 21, 1925, in Grundy. He was the only child of Buchanan County natives Curtis and Elizabeth Belcher Smith.
Mr. Smith graduated from Grundy High School in 1942 and the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1947, with a degree in electrical engineering. After marrying the love of his life, Jewell Garland Smith, in September 1947, Smith served seven years active duty in the U.S. Navy, stationed in Panama and San Diego. He returned to his hometown of Grundy in 1954, where he opened his first Piggly Wiggly store in 1955, with the help of three special stockholders: his father, Curtis Smith, uncle, Earl Smith and cousin, Ernest Smith.
Headquartered in Abingdon, K-VA-T Food Stores Inc. operates 95 Food City and Super Dollar supermarkets throughout the tri-state regions of Southeast Kentucky, Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. The company also operates its own distribution center and water bottling facility, Misty Mountain Spring Water, L.L.C. Smith served as Food City's chief executive officer until passing the torch to his son, Steven C. Smith, in 2001.
His strong sense of community involvement was evident in the countless organizations supported by Smith and Food City. He received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including Tennessee Grocer's prestigious 1996 Grocer of the Year Award and the Junior Achievement Tri-Cities TN/VA Business Hall of Fame Laureate in 1999. Smith served on various boards, such as the Federal Reserve Board of Richmond, Va., Virginia Food Dealers Association Board of Directors, holding the office of president in 1981, president of National Piggly Wiggly Operators Association in 1969 and president and member of the Grundy Rotary Club. He was also a long-time member of National Grocers Association, where he received The 2002 Clarence G. Adamy "Great American" Award, declaring Smith "A man of many accomplishments and a true gentleman. A pioneer and entrepreneur, providing the foundation and vision to grow Food City from a small neighborhood grocery store to a modern community supermarket leader." His hobby was his work.
Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his lovely wife of 56 years, Jewell "Judy" Garland Smith, in 2003.
He is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Steven C. Smith, Food City president and CEO, and Debbie Smith of Abingdon; two daughters and sons-in-law, Stephanie and Frank David of Richlands and Sharon and Thomas Hembree of Abingdon; one sister-in-law, Ione Saylor of Westminster, Md.; two brothers-in-law, Bob Watts of Annapolis, Md., and Claude Garland and wife Angela Garland of Westminster; six grandchildren, Alison David, Joshua David, Drew Hembree, Melanie Hembree, Katie Smith and Chloe Smith; and one special cousin, Lee Smith of Hillsborough, N.C.
The family visited with friends and guests Sunday, March 18, 2007, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Highlands Fellowship Church, 22417 Watauga Road, Abingdon. The funeral service will be Monday, March 19, 2007, at 1 p.m., with Mr. Bill Neeley and Mr. Mike Rife officiating. Entombment will follow in the Colonial Chapel Mausoleum at Forest Hills Memory Gardens, Abingdon, with military rites conducted by the Highlands Fellowship Honor Color Guard.
Pallbearers will be Phyllis Scott, Jesse Lewis, Bob Neeley, Johnny Cecil, Emerson Breeden, Pam Murray, Drew Hembree and Josh David.
Honorary pallbearers will include all Food City associates.
The family would like to express special appreciation to Dr. Emory Robinette, Dr. Sue J. Prill, Dr. Timothy McGarry, Dr. James Denton, Dr. Chad T. Couch, Dr. T.L. Whitman, the staff of Wellmont Bristol Regional Medical Center and Johnston Memorial Hospital, area physicians and special caregivers, Teresa Phipps, Sandy Patrick, Stella Blackwell, Rose Taylor, Tammy Hardee, Jessica Scott, Ann Morris, Brenda Malone and Brenda Marshall.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jack C. Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o The Tennessee Grocers Education Foundation, 1838 Elm Hill Pike, Suite 136, Nashville, TN 37210. Those wishing to share memories or express sympathy online may visit at www.farrisfuneralservice.com.
The Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service, 427 E. Main St., Abingdon, is serving the family of Jack C. Smith.