Willie "Billy" Joe Smith, age 88, of Jasper, FL. passed away at his home on Saturday, April 23, 2022 surrounded by his family.

Billy was born in Echols County, Georgia on February 27, 1934 to the late Willie and Myrtice Jestes Smith.  He came up during tough times and so hard work was not foreign to him. He had to leave school at an early age and went to work with his father. Billy was a very successful trapper and worked out of "Billy's Hide House" where he bought and sold animals for the resale of the hide and the sometimes the meat. Billy also owned and operator as many as six logging trucks at one time and on the side did a little farming. In February of 1955 he married the love of his life, a dark-haired beauty by the name of Myrtle Robinson and the two remained together the next 67 years. Billy could be as tough or as gentle as he needed to be. It was never a secret that he spoke his mind and not always to everyone's satisfaction but it was a fact that he loved is family and was fiercely protective. Billy was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, Gladys, Lawton and Barbara Ann and two sons, Joe Smith and Infant son Bobby Smith. Only half-jokingly, next to Myrtle, the next loves of his life would be his pups, Bay Bay who recently passed away and Zoey his faithful companion til the end.

Survivors include his wife, Myrtle Robinson Smith; his son and daughter-in-law, Marvin and Gussie Smith; three grandchildren, Christina Smith McCulley (Ryan), Lindsey Smith (Tia) and Jaz Jenkins (Kyle); and eight great grandchildren, Logan, Lance and Collin McCulley, Elizette, Blanca, Kaveyn and Natalie Smith and Sammie Jenkins.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 in the chapel of Harry T. Reid Funeral Home in Jasper, FL. Interment followed at Prospect Cemetery near White Springs, FL.

Memorial contributions may be made to Community Hospice and Palliative Care Foundation, 4266 Sunbeam Rd, Jacksonville, FL. 32257.

Harry T. Reid Funeral Home, Jasper, FL. was in charge of arrangements.