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Huntingdon’s Pioneer Family

The Ed and Sarah Smith Family

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The legacy of Ed and Sarah Smith was honored during the annual Huntingdon Heritage Festival on Saturday, September 28.
Ed and Sarah Holladay Smith were both born and raised here in Carroll County. Ed Smith was a farmer and carpenter and Sarah worked at the old shirt factory. They lived and raised their family in the Concord Community. Together, they had two sons: Ray Smith and Troy Smith.
Ray Smith, who lives in Huntingdon, is married to Wilma Crider Smith. Ray is a graduate of Clarksburg High School and reared on a farm in the 24th District of Carroll County. Ray and Wilma married on March 23, 1946.
Together they have two children, Jan Kizer (husband, Jim) of Union City and Brent Smith (wife, Wanda) of Camden. Ray and Wilma have six grandchildren, Amy Harris, Jody Kizer, Jason Kizer, Tim Smith, Jeff Smith, and Ginger Smith. They also have twelve great-grandchildren. Ray is a member of Huntingdon Missionary Baptist Church, where he is a deacon and Sunday School teacher. Ray is the president of West Tenn. Public Utilities District.

He has served as past chairman of the Huntingdon Industrial Board. Ray is a former recipient of the Outstanding Citizen Award. He is a member of Woodmen of the World Lodge 47, a member of the Utilities Management Review Board for the State of Tenn. which he has served under three governors, and a member of the University of Tennessee Development Council in Knoxville. Ray also owned and operated Ray Smith Chevrolet-Buick Inc. in Camden for 58 years with his son and grandson, a three-generation business. He recently sold the business in March of 2019.
Troy Smith was born on December 27, 1933. At the age of 3, he was stricken with polio. It affected his legs, leaving one leg shorter than the other which made it difficult for him to walk.
Troy’s older brother Ray pushed him to school every day for two years. He wore braces and used crutches for a period of time, but then was able to walk unassisted. Troy graduated from Clarksburg High School and attended Coyne Electrical School in Chicago. In 1953, he married Virginia Bennett Smith. Together, they had three children: Laurie Horton (husband, David), Troy Smith (wife, Mary), and Patrick Smith (wife, Anita). They have one grandson and three great-grandchildren. In the mid-’50s, he started an electrical business with Edwin Douglas. In 1958, he accepted a job with Shelby Electric in Memphis and worked there until 1971.
Troy and Virginia bought a Texaco Service Station and Wrecker Service and following that, started Troy Smith Automotive and Wrecker Service in Memphis. He also got his private pilot’s license and taught flying lessons at Desoto Airport in Southaven, Miss. He loved to fly and would take his family on plane rides Sunday afternoons after church. In the mid-’70s, Troy and his family moved to Camden, where he worked at Ray Smith Chevrolet as the service department manager. Troy’s family left Camden and moved to Huntingdon to care for Virginia’s mother.
Troy and his mother Sarah became licensed to sell insurance for Time Insurance Company and Banker’s Life and Casualty. Troy also worked for Bradley Chemical Co. and Sun Diagnostic Machine Co. for several years before his retirement. Troy Smith died in 2015.

Heritage Festival, Huntingdon, 2019