Johnnie Mac Smith

Johnnie Mac Smith died May 14, 2021 peacefully in his son’s home.  How to begin to describe a life in just a few lines.  I can hear him now saying, “Son, don’t pay them too much money to talk about me”.  Well Pop, this time I am not going to listen.  He was born in Tupelo, Mississippi on May 24, 1949 and legend has it, Elvis wore our family hand me downs.  He was Mississippi born, & that is where his love of the outdoors began.  In his teens the family moved to Louisiana, he graduated from Slidell High School, played football, and bagged groceries for Winn Dixie, where his love of the grocery business started.  He answered Uncle Sam’s call and served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam.  He became an Infantry Drill Sergeant and trained and mentored young men who would fight for the country he loved.  When his tour ended, he resumed his love of the grocery business.  His unique ability to train, mentor, and develop would eventually lead him to become the youngest regional supervisor in the history of the Delchamps Corporation with 20+ stores under his direction.  He was not just a career man though he was a wonderful father to his children, an avid fisherman who won many tournaments but more importantly developed lifelong friendships.  If you wanted to know where they were biting, he was the man to call.  Except on Saturdays, those were reserved for his LSU tigers.  Before he was able to find his new fishing hole in the sky, I am certain he was greeted by his mother, Byvirl M. Smith, his father, Charles C. Smith, his sister E. Vicki Murray and his brother Charles Smith. He leaves behind his children Jodi S. Brignac (Heath) and Shane M. Smith (Terri-Lynn), his sister, Linda S. Johnsen and his lifelong friend, her husband, Bill and his grandchildren Brittany, Mary Hannah, Brailon, Sami, Bailey, Gabby, Charlie, Logan, and Lexie.  He will also be greatly missed by his nephews David White, Michael Johnsen, nieces Ashleigh J. Fisher (Barak), Tamara W. Murray, (her wife Melissa, his honorary niece) and his cousin Patsy Anthony whose relationship he valued greatly.   It cannot go unsaid that family comes in many ways and we would like to acknowledge the entire Jester family, Mona and Karl Mack, Marla Whittington, and Scott and Patrick Freeman.

Graveside service with Military Honors will be held at 11 am on Thursday at Louisiana National Cemetery Zachary, afterwards, please join us for a memorial celebration at Old Dutchtown Clubhouse, 13160 Old Dutchtown Ave Gonzales, 70737

In lieu of flowers memorial gifts are preferred to be used by his family to honor his life and memory, please visit to give a gift, https://www.ilof.com/st-amant/johnnie-m-smith

Arrangements with Church Funeral Services