Janice Smith

Janice Annette Martin Smith

November 1, 1932 – January 18, 2022

Janice A. Smith, 89 years old and mother of 5, passed away on January 18. Janice was born to Floyd and Lillie (Palmer) Martin in Idabel, Oklahoma during the Great Depression.  She and her sister Susie were close companions and playmates.  Once, 12-year-old Janice agreed to help 10-year-old Susie pay off a $2.00 debt because Susie had opened a charge account at a local store.  Considering the financial condition at that time, this was a serious debt.   In 1944, the family moved to Bauxite, Arkansas and Janice never lived outside Saline County after that, except for a short sojourn to Texas while her husband, James Smith served in Korea.

While the family was living in Bauxite, several families started holding religious services in the Martin family home and in less than a year the number of people coming was too large for a private home. So, two other groups and the Bauxite group joined together and they founded what eventually became the Northside Church of Christ in Benton.  Janice has been a member of that congregation essentially for her whole life and was the church’s first secretary.

Janice met the love of her life, James E. Smith, at Bauxite High School and they married when she was 18.  She became the mother of five children and her life focused on family, friends, and the church.  As her children had children of their own, she had a hand in rearing each of them and helped raise her great-grandkids. She had snacks for them after school and went to all of their school functions.  She and James were married for 71 years. Each year they seemed to get closer, and many commented on their affection for each other.

Janice was a wonderful cook who always had enough to feed a few extra folks.  She loved fixing an extra plate or two for her relatives who lived nearby.  James kept her busy canning the produce from their huge garden. She good naturally accepted James frequent teasing and loved to play Rook with her friends.  Janice was a calming presence who was kind, generous, and forgiving.  As James’s eyesight deteriorated, she read the newspaper and the bible to him every day using her magnifying glass because her vision was also deteriorating.

Janice is survived by her husband, James E. Smith; her brother, Douglas Martin (his wife, Mary); her daughters: Vickie and Laura; sons: James D. (his wife, Carol), Kenneth (his wife, Molly), and Kevin; and by ten grandchildren and several great grandchildren.

Visitation is Tuesday, January 25, from 10:00 -11:00 AM, at Northside Church of Christ followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM.   The service will be live-streamed at https://www.northsidecofc.info/watch/.

Services entrusted to Smith-Benton Funeral Home. Online guestbook: www.SmithFamilyCares.com.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to:

Bauxite Community Hall

6707 Benton Street

Bauxite, AR 72011

501-557-9302

Or:                          Corin B. Read Christian Camp

C/O Northside Church of Christ

917 N. East St.

Benton, AR 72015