Jackie Smith, Jr.

This is a moment of transparency.

My immediate family has always been tight. Not just close in proximity — tight in trust. Tight in loyalty. Tight in that unspoken understanding that whatever happens in this house, stays in this house. We lived that. It wasn’t just a saying. It was culture. It was covenant.

There’s a level of honor and grace you only experience inside your immediate family. The kind where you don’t have to explain your silence. The kind where history doesn’t have to be rehearsed because everyone was there when it was made.

And then life does what life does.

One parent dies.

The circle is no longer unbroken.

You grieve. You adjust. You learn how to stand in a space that feels unfamiliar but somehow still called “home.” You figure out how to celebrate holidays differently. You learn how to say their name without your voice cracking every time.

Then a sibling dies.

Then your other parent dies.

Yikes.

There’s no polished way to say that. Life doesn’t just change — it shatters. And you try to pick up the pieces, but the deeper truth is this: some of those pieces were cracked long before you noticed. Grief has a way of exposing fractures you didn’t know were there. Old conversations. Old misunderstandings. Old wounds. Everything surfaces.

And somehow you’re expected to function.

The craziest part? My dad was a historian.

Y’all didn’t know that.

He documented everything. Births. Deaths. Parties. Church services. Conventions. Banquets. Concerts. If something happened, he was there — and he recorded it. Dates. Programs. Photos. Notes. Videos. Evidence that we were here. Evidence that it mattered.

Now as we — mainly my brother — sort through his things, we’re surrounded by life in the middle of death. Programs from celebrations. Pictures of smiles. Ticket stubs from moments that felt ordinary at the time but now feel sacred.

It’s overwhelming.

Because the man who preserved the record is no longer here to narrate it.

So I’m sitting in this space asking a real question — not a polished one.

How do you manage losing both parents?

What does that look like for you?

If you’ve lost both parents and a sibling… how do you carry that?

I really want to know.

Not the textbook answer. Not the inspirational quote.

The real answer.

Because I’m learning that grief isn’t a season you pass through. It’s a room you learn to live in. And some days that room feels manageable. Other days it feels like the walls are closing in.

I’ve always believed in strength. In faith. In family. I still do.

But strength looks different now.

If you’ve walked this road, I’d value your honesty. What helped? What surprised you? What did no one prepare you for?

This isn’t advice-seeking as much as it is community-seeking.

Transparency has a way of finding its own healing.

And today, I’m choosing it.

Yesterday, I gave the final committal over my father, Jackie M. Smith, and laid his body to rest in his final resting place. Today, we begin a new normal.

Daddy was so deeply ingrained in our lives that this new space will truly be challenging. His presence shaped our days, our rhythms, and our foundation. Learning to move forward without him will take grace, patience, and faith.

My strength is solely due to God’s grace. At the same time, I hurt to my very core. Nanna. Mommy. Jackie. And now Daddy. All gone. It is now down to Jermaine and me, and we genuinely need your prayers.

Please keep us lifted.
I need your prayers.

Thank you for standing with us.

With heartfelt gratitude, thank you to everyone who surrounded our family with love, prayers, and support as we celebrated the life and legacy of my father.

Interment Service
📅 Thursday, January 8, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM (Eastern Time)
📍 Dayton National Cemetery
4400 W Third St, Dayton, OH 45428

I want to extend special thanks to my mother, Pamela, for her strength and unwavering love; my wife, Marla Jean, for her steady support behind the scenes; my siblings—Melissa, Moncherie, and Jermaine, for stepping in and faithfully handling their individual roles; and my children—Michael, John, and Jubal, for being present, in place, and truly representing the next generations.

Deep appreciation to Dr. Bernita Wright, my father’s pastor, and the Original Glorious Church family for your leadership, covering, and continued support. I also extend sincere thanks to my pastor, Bishop Marcus McIntosh, PhD, and the Agape International Cathedral church family for standing with us in love and prayer.

Special thanks to New Birth Christian Ministries Columbus for graciously hosting the services. The full livestream can be viewed on their page, and I will be reposting it on YouTube in the near future.

Our sincere appreciation also goes to Mr. Marlan Gary, Larissa Jones, and the entire Marlan Gary Funeral Home staff for your professionalism, care, and compassion throughout this process.

If you have any photos, videos, or livestreams from the service, please feel free to drop a link in the comments. We would love to see and preserve those memories.

Thank you all for honoring my father so beautifully.

Just what I needed... My granddaughter born on my dad's birthday!!

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My father means the world to me. I’ve also known my entire life that he means the world to so many others. As a family, we shared him in life — and we will share in the celebration of his life together.

For clarity, the visitation and funeral services for Elder Jackie M. Smith, Sr. are open to everyone.

Service Details
Saturday, January 3, 2026
New Birth Christian Ministries
3475 Refugee Rd., Columbus, OH 43232

Visitation: 9:00 AM
Funeral Service: 11:00 AM

For those sending flower arrangements, please ensure delivery to the church by 8:00 AM on the day of service.

Condolences may be sent to:
📧 [email protected]

After the service, the immediate family will be going to Golden Corral in Grove City. Anyone who would like to join us is more than welcome.

Thank you for your continued love, prayers, and support.

With grateful hearts for a life well lived, we share the arrangements for our beloved father.

Celebration of Life for Jackie Smith, Sr.

New Birth Christian Ministries
3475 Refugee Rd., Columbus, OH 43232
Saturday, January 3, 2026

Visitation: 9:00–11:00 AM
Funeral Service: 11:00 AM

During the visitation, we welcome friends and loved ones to share memories and reflections.

For those wishing to send flowers, Mom prefers planter arrangements. She is also comfortable receiving monetary gifts via $LadyPam46.

The obituary and digital guestbook are available here:
🔗 https://www.thechapelofpeace.com/obituaries/jackie-smith

Thank you for your prayers, love, and continued support during this time.

This Christmas season carries both gratitude and grief for our family as we honor the life and legacy of my father, Jackie Smith Sr. His passing has forever shaped our hearts.

We are thankful for the love, prayers, and support surrounding us during this time. May this season remind us to hold family close, cherish each moment, and trust God’s comfort even in sorrow.

Wishing you peace, reflection, and hope this Christmas.

With heavy hearts, we share that our beloved father has peacefully transitioned from this life.

We are grateful for the love, prayers, and support that have surrounded our family during this time. Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we navigate this loss together.

Arrangements and additional details will be shared when available.

Thank you for your compassion, patience, and understanding.

🤍

We’re asking for your prayers for my dad and our family as we enter this next season of life. 🤍
He is at home, and for those who would like to visit, you’re welcome to stop by between 2:00–6:00 PM.

We kindly ask that visits be brief and mindful, as both he and my mom need plenty of rest.
Thank you for your continued love, support, and prayers.