ECRU — Richmond Smith, 86, died Monday, Nov. 9, 2015, at his residence in Ecru. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Church of The Living God in Thaxton with Bishop Calvin Worthem officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Carmel Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Hodges Funeral Homes of Oxford and from 5-7 p.m. at the church. Hodges Funeral Homes is in charge of arrangements.

Born in South Carolina, he was retired from the U.S. Air Force and as quality control manager for sheet metal coating. He was Deacon emeritus at the Church of the Living God.

He was preceded in death by his daughter Sharon and son Charles Smith.

He is survived by his wife, Estelle Smith of Ecru; four sons, Elder Renile Smith and Reginald Smith, both of Baltimore, Maryland, Harry Smith of Pontotoc and Jerry Rickels of Ecru; 16 grandchildren and host of great-grandchildren.