Leverett Tyrrell Smith - "Terry" Jr. - “Terry”

ROCKY MOUNT – Leverett Tyrrell Smith, Jr. – “Terry”, age 86, passed away on Thursday, March 6, 2025. Born in Westchester County, NY on September 24, 1938, he was the son of the late Leverett Tyrrell Smith, Sr. and Eleanor Hoyt Smith.

Terry lived a life with a love for books and music, teaching and most of all love for his family. He was an avid reader and would read six books at a time. In his teaching he wanted to instill a love for reading to all of his students. Most every wall in the Smith house had book shelves full of books. The house was often filled with music mostly of various styles of jazz and the blues. He loved baseball, soccer, and basketball. His favorite teams were the Atlanta Braves, the Arsenal Football Club and the Duke basketball team. The latter was kept from his family for many years. Terry was a teacher in his classes and in his life. His dry sense of humor was sometimes lost on some people, but his kindness was not. His children thought he was the nicest man in the world and his wife knew it.

Terry is survived by his wife of 65 years, Janette J. Smith: his daughter, Jessica Smith Ellis, and husband Keith, of Rocky Mount; his sons, Leverett Tyrrell Smith, III – ”Rab”, and wife Jennifer, of Raleigh, NC, and Harry Smith, and wife Alyssa Cho, of Rancho Cordova, CA; his grandchildren, Margaret E. McLaughlin, and husband Jed, Leverett Tyrrell Smith IV – “Ty”, Justin Ellis, and wife Laura Perry, Jonathan Ellis, Amelia Smith, and Eleanor Smith.

A celebration of life service will be held at a later date.

Arrangements entrusted to Johnson Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 661 English Road, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.  You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.johnsonfuneralsandcremations.com.