John Edward Smith

John E. Smith was born on November 2, 1951 in Atlanta, Georgia, at Grady Hospital to John and Ethel Smith. He was the fourth child of their union. He accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at Antioch Baptist Church North. He matriculated through the Atlanta Public School System and graduated from Murphy High School in 1970. While in high school he met the love of his life, Janice Smith and began dating at the beginning of their junior year, in October 1968.
John and Janice married on February 14, 1972 and welcomed their first daughter Tresha in 1973 and their second daughter Tiffany in 1975. In the summer of 1982 they bought their first and only home in Decatur, Georgia. John worked as a printer for over 35 years for companies like Stein Printing and Prographics, a profession in which he took pride in. After retiring from printing he also worked at Arabia Mountain High School and Briggs &Stratton.
In his free time John loved to spend time with his family and friends traveling the state and country. They frequently went on vacations to Myrtle Beach and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In the city he enjoyed going to various restaurants and was often known on a first name basis by the staff. He also enjoyed deep sea fishing and loved to spend time on the water. Later in life, at almost 70 years old, he went on one of the biggest adventures of his life, skydiving. John also was an avid Georgia Tech fan and even named a room in his house in their honor called The Beehive.
John was preceded in death by his parents John Smith and Ethel Smith; siblings Joan Parks, Beverly Usher, Gregory Smith, and Torrence Smith. He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife Janice Smith; daughters Tresha (Maurice) Howard, Tiffany (Gabriel) Jefferson; grandchildren Chadwick Smith, Javier Smith, Joya Smith, and Anjanese Thomas; great-grandson Aaron Smith; sister Terri Smith and a host of bonus children & grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Services entrusted to Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home, 4347 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur, GA 30034