Millard Jefferson "MJ" Smith

Millard Jefferson “MJ” Smith, 92, of Lloyd Kentucky went home to be with the Lord, Thursday morning, November 18th 2021, with his two favorite girls in the world at his side. MJ was born May 12, 1929 on Big Leatherwood in Greenup County. The oldest son of the late Morris Jefferson and Grace Greene Smith, Millard grew up on the family farm in a time long forgotten. He plowed the fields and hillsides with teams of horses and mules. He cut and snaked logs and ties to haul to town to help his family earn a living. It was there he learned the value of hard work and that the bond you share with family is second in life only to the bond you share with God. In the same hollow where he grew up he met the love of his life, Iona, his wife of 68 years. Except for their time apart while he was serving his country there was hardly a day they weren’t by each other’s side for nearly seventy years. Upon his return from active duty in Germany during the Korean war, the two of them grew and built a life together in Lloyd, Ky. They had a daughter, Elaine, who was always a daddy’s girl. Millard was a wonderful husband and father. Millard worked as a carpenter and eventually as a carman for C&O/CSX railroad from which he retired. In his time off from work he enjoyed visiting and tending his “old home place” where he grew up. He loved riding and trading horses and would often spend the weekends in his younger days at horse sales, trading and selling with friends and family. Many of those adventures was spent alongside his son in law Cavel Bush. On Sunday mornings you could always find Millard at church if his health and the weather allowed. He loved the Lord with all his heart and never missed an opportunity to give thanks to the Lord through song or testimony.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sisters Hazel (Harvey) Musser, Elizabeth (Paul) Baker, Ethel (J.D.) Wolfe, Minnie (H.B.) Wolfe, and Louise (Bill) Bradley; and brother Jack Smith.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years Iona Horsley Smith; one daughter Elaine (Cavel) Bush of Lloyd, Kentucky; one brother Carl and Darlene Smith of South Shore, Kentucky; one sister-in-law Mary Ellen Smith of Greenup, Kentucky; one grandson Britt (Caren) Bush; great granddaughters Ella Joy and Audrey Jane Bush; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends that will miss him greatly.

Funeral service will be conducted at 1:00 pm on Saturday, November 20, 2021, at Wurtland Freewill Baptist Church in Wurtland, Kentucky by Grandson Britt Bush and Pastor Roy Roach. Burial will be in Brick Union Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11:00 am until service time. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Community Hospice Care Center – 1480 Carter Ave. Ashland, Kentucky 41101. The family would like to thank Gail Lauderdale and Lavaughn Plummer the critical care nurses that stayed around the clock with him. Condolences may be made at www.rlrfuneralhome.com. Reed Funeral Home in Greenup is in charge of arrangements.