JOCK SMITH

SMITH, Jock Michael, departed this life on January 8, 2012, a nationally acclaimed lawyer, unparalleled sports collector, historian, archivist, author, and family man; Jock, who was a native of New York City, New York, established strong professional and communal roots in Alabama where he graduated from Tuskegee Institute and began his law practice. Mr. Smith founded the Cochran Firm with Johnny L. Cochran, Jr., Sam Cherry and Keith Givens. He served as President of the Cochran Firm U.S.A. since 2005. In 2004, his landmark $1.6 billion dollar jury verdict was that year's largest and remains the highest amount ever awarded an African-American attorney. Smith has the largest, authenticated, privately-owned collection of game-worn sports uniforms in the United States. His numerous awards and recognitions include membership on the Democratic National Convention's (DNC) Advisory Council to President Obama. Smith served as a member of the Board of Trustees for Tuskegee University. He leaves this legacy to his loving and devoted wife, Yvette Smiley-Smith, and his daughter, Janay Marriel Smith. Jock is also survived by his sister, Paula E. Smith; his stepfather, Wade Nance; cousins, Wilson Smith, Sid Smith, Alan Smith, Sasha Smith, Karen Smith; sister-in-law, Marielle Smiley Munnerlyn (Samuel); brother-in-law, Harold D. Smiley, Sr. (Alicia); nieces, Dawn Smiley, Samarria Yvette Munnerlyn Dunson (Kendall), LLoria Candace Munnerlyn James (Charles), nephews: Harold D. Smiley, Jr., Rutland Smiley (Shamar); grandnephews, Jeremy Smiley, Kenneth Dunson; grandnieces, Simone Smiley, Fallon Smiley, Lalia Smiley, Madison Dawn Smiley, Aiden Yvette James, Kendall Marielle Dunson and a host of other dear family and friends. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, January 15, 2012 at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome on the campus of Alabama State University. The program will begin promptly at 1:30. Mr. Smith's visitation will be at Ross-Clayton Funeral Home this Saturday, January 14, 2012 from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm. He will lie in repose at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome on Sunday, January 15, 2012 from 12:00 pm until funeral service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests your help in honoring his legacy by contributing to the Jock M. Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund at Tuskegee University.