James Raiford Rufus Smith was born on April 29, 1933 in Capron, Va., to the late Nathan and Mary Lou Smith. He was the youngest of 12 children.

His demise came on Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2003, at Obici Hospital.

Mr. Smith had retired from Rountree Construction Company as a heavy equipment operator.

Left to cherish his memories are one son, Raiford D. Smith (Angela) of Portsmouth; one daughter, Alice R. Woods of Murfreesboro, N.C.; five grandchildren, Alicia, Ola-Marie and A’jelique, all of Murfreesboro; Christian and Alexis, both of Portsmouth; one great-granddaughter, Omari, of Murfreesboro; mother of his children, Dr. Ola H. Gathers of Severn, N.C.; two sisters, Hazel Britt of Suffolk and Celestine Rice of Jacksonville, N.C.; and many nieces, nephew, and friends.

The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, in Oak Grove Baptist Church.

Interment will be in Nansemond-Suffolk Cemetery.

Crocker Funeral Home Inc. is handling arrangements.