ALFRED EDWARD SMITH SR.

Alfred "Al" Edward Smith Sr., age 86, beloved husband of 37 years to Meredith Marie Miles Smith, died on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022, at the Dorn VA Medical Center.

Born in Darlington County, he was a son of the late James Edward Smith and Cecilia Reynolds Smith. Al was a proud member of the U.S. Air Force and served his country in Vietnam. He retired in 1975 as a master sergeant, after more than 20 years of service. He was a former businessman in the Sumter community and was a loyal member of Dalzell Baptist Church. He was an avid hunter and loved bird dog field trials. Al enjoyed woodworking and was known throughout his community as a very talented handyman. He was a devoted family man and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Marie; two sons, Al Smith Jr. and his wife, Jeanie, and Timothy Smith and his wife, Jennifer, all of Sumter; a stepson, Kevin Barkley of Sumter; two daughters, Cynthia Bick and her husband, Edward "Buzz" of Sumter and Nancy Prosser and her husband, Ronnie, of Manning; a stepdaughter, Melissa Gurney of Sumter; two brothers, Sidney Smith of Sumter and Jesse Smith and his wife, Faye, of Lamar; one sister, Ethel Gibbs of Sardis; nine grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and his former wife, Faye H. Smith of Sumter.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Thomas Smith, Harry Smith and Roy Smith; and two sisters, Ruby Hickson and Betty Geddings.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday in the Bullock Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Mark Barnette officiating. The service will conclude with full military honors on the front lawn. A private family interment will be held following the service at 3 p.m. in the Fort Jackson National Cemetery.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from noon to 1 p.m. at Bullock Funeral Home.

You may go to www.bullockfuneralhome.com and sign the family's guest book.

The family has chosen Bullock Funeral Home for the arrangements.