Rev. James A. Smith Jr., 83, formerly of Boothbay Harbor, died May 15 at his home in Statesboro, Ga. Jim was born Aug. 26, 1934 in New York, N.Y. to James A. Smith Sr. and Rena (Marr) Smith.
Jim graduated from Port Chester High School in New York in the class of 1953. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1953 to 1957, and as a reservist from 1957 to 1961. He married Marsha Carol Haley on June 7, 1959.
Jim continued his education graduating from Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah with a B.A. in 1962, and received his Master of Divinity in 1965 at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Col.
Jim became licensed to preach as a Methodist minister in June 1958, and was ordained on June 14, 1963. Jim served churches in Colorado and Utah before coming to Hallowell where he served from 1970 to 1973. He later served churches in Boothbay Harbor from 1973 to 1981, Woodland from 1981 to 1987, and Oakland-Sidney from 1987 to 1997. He was a member of the Methodist New England Conference, and was active on the Maine Annual Conference Board serving on the Commission of Archives and History.
Jim enjoyed traveling throughout his life which included trips to Cuba, Jamaica, Italy, Malta, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Morocco, Lebanon, Mexico, and Canada. Jim also enjoyed history and photography.
Jim is survived by son, Warren S. Smith of Savannah, Ga.; daughter, Rena P. Smith of Boothbay Harbor; brother, John Smith of New York; sister, Judy Smith of New York; grandchildren, Tyler S. Tibbetts of Newcastle, and Dalton H. Tibbetts of Southport; great-grandchildren, Nicholas A. Timberlake of Spokane, Wash., Noelle E. Timberlake of Newagen, and Trey E. Tibbetts of Newagen; several nieces and nephews; and great personal friend whom Jim loved as a son and brother, Tom Dwelley of Tennessee.
A service to celebrate Jim’s life will be held at 2 p.m., Sat., June 23 at the First United Methodist Church of Boothbay Harbor, 81 Townsend Ave., Boothbay Harbor.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hall’s of Boothbay, 975 Wiscasset Rd., Boothbay.
Condolences may be shared with the family at hallfuneralhomes.com.
