Mr. Sidney Ronald Smith Sr.

Citronelle, AL – Sidney R. Smith, 79, of Citronelle, Alabama, passed away peacefully, on Thursday, June 10, 2021. Sidney was known as “Sid” by friends and loved ones. Born in Bushnell, FL, on November 5, 1941, Sid survived his parents Sidney and Fannie Smith. Sid graduated from Bushnell High School in 1959 and then served his country faithfully as an Army paratrooper from 1959-1962. Honorably discharged from the army, Sid spent sixteen years as a dedicated Florida Power and Light linesman. He married his lovely wife, Linda, on June 22, 1973, and they settled in Bushell where they raised their six children. Sid and Linda pooled their financial resources to begin construction of a sawmill business. They became well known in Sumter County as the owners/operators of the successful Smith’s Sawmill that spanned nineteen years. Sid was a true “jack of all trades.” He also acquired his construction license and built several residences and apartment complexes in Sumter County. He was an active member of Wahoo Baptist Church serving in the choir and as a Sunday school teacher. He joined several church members on mission trips to Jamaica, Haiti, and the Holy Land to share, spread, and teach God’s Word. Sid was instrumental in the construction of the Wahoo Baptist Church Sunday School building and the parsonage by donating land, time, labor, and materials. In 1992, Sid and Linda sold the sawmill business and relocated to Citronelle, AL, with their teenage son, Sid, Jr. While in Citronelle, Sid became a master mechanic for Champion International Sawmill and continued his interest in construction by building and managing thirty-six apartments. Sid’s avocation was purchasing/selling properties in Alabama, ultimately landing on a 780 acre parcel on which Sid and Linda built their home and barn. Sid’s barn stored his growing collection of machinery, tools, vehicles, heavy equipment, and countless other “valuable” items. Local and out of state visitors hunted on Sid’s property. One patron, the band Rascall Flatts, became friends and invited Sid and Linda to join them backstage at their concerts. Over a span of 30 years, Sid would make a yearly trek to Idaho to hunt with his friends Billy, Joe, and Donnie Merritt, Tom and Luke Swain, Steve and Josh Davis, Dr. Serra, Sonny and Scrammy Hunt, Lane Purcell, Little Sid and many other friends. Another treasured antic would be to take his children in the front end loader for rides and eventually dump them (safely) at the ends. A favorite game was when he would capture all of the kids by pinning them under a leg or an arm while the rest would try and “rescue” their siblings. The kids always lost! Sid is survived by his wife of 48 years, Linda; his sister, Sue Cain; six children, Tamela Dinnell, Melissa Foster, Billy Bond, Sandra (Rick) Roehrick, Mike Bond, and Sid (Natalie) Smith, Jr.; twelve grandchildren, Tina, Hugh, Kiely, Will, Kylie, Bre, Allie, Erik, Emilee, William, Davis, and Lee (Rachel/Lee’s mom); and many nieces and nephews. Many thanks to the love that the Wahoo Haven Apartment tenants have shown to Sid thoughtout the years. Special thanks to Ronnie Hunt, Gwen Godwin, Shane Stringer, Danna & Mark Tapia, Wendell & Dawn Connell, Gale Carter, Gail Lovett, Jackie, and many other family and friends in both Alabama and Florida for continued kindness, caring, and support. Much appreciation is expressed to the friends and families of Wahoo Baptist Church for arranging and organizing Sid’s Celebration of Life. Services will be held June 26th at Wahoo Baptist Church, Sumter County, at 2:00 PM.

Mr. Sidney Ronald Smith Sr.

November 5, 1941 - June 10, 2021