Funeral services were held Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, at Ruby K. Johnson Chapel for Mr. Lester Rue Smith, Sr., 60, who died Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, at Jefferson Davis Community Hospital in Prenitss. Rev. Jessie Holloway officiated with interment following in Smith Family Cemetery in Prentiss.  Johnson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. 

Mr. Lester Smith was born to the late Dorothy Lee Smith and Lerue McCullum Sr. He joined Sweet Beulah Church of God in Christ at an early age; he later joined Mt. Olive C.M.E. Church. Mr. Smith attended J. E. Johnson Elementary and Prentiss High School and later Pearl River Community College. 

He met and married Willa Cherlean Wells and to this union, four children were born. He was formerly a maintenance supervisor at Collins Nursing Center.   

He was preceded in death by his sister Annette Strickland and stepfather, James Hartzog Sr.

He is survived by his wife, Willa Cherlean Smith; two sons, Armonzo (April) and Lester (Marketta); two daughters, Shekita (Derrick) and Mary (Justin) both of Prentiss; three brothers, Jesse (Lisa) Smith, Lerue (Lonna) McCullum and Rodney (Santana) Robinson; sister, Lisa McCullum; 12 grandchildren; three godsons, Steve, Sylvester and Christopher; goddaughter, Kemeka and many other relatives and friends.