Pylant Geneology

Obit:
Special Agent Jerrel Rex Smith, Jr. January 26, 1963 - June 9, 2010

Natchez-Services for Special Agent Jerrel Rex Smith, Jr., 47 who died Wednesday June 9, 2010 in Independence, Kentucky will be at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday June 16, 2010 at Laird Funeral Home Union Street Chapel with Rev. Jimmy Harper officiating. Burial will be in the Natchez National Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 9:30 A.M.until time of services Wednesday at Laird Funeral Home .

Jerrel "Rex" Smith, Jr. was born in Natchez, on January 26, 1963, the son of Sandra Beth (Harper) Smith of Natchez, MS and Jerrel Rex Smith, Sr. of Brookhaven, MS. He attended elementary and high school in Paris, TN, graduating from Henry County High School in 1981. During his school years he excelled in many sports especially football. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving in both stateside assignments and several overseas assignments -Japan, Korea and Denmark. He attained the rank of Lance Corporal during his time in the service and was honorably discharged in 1986 at this military rank. After his military service he attended Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson, MS and Northwestern Louisiana University in Monroe, LA where he graduated in December 1992 with a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Sociology. Rex worked for a short period with the Bastrop Police Force before being accepted in 1998 to work with the United States Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Agency. He was assigned to work as a Special Agent in the Cincinnati Ohio Field Office after graduating from the DEA Academy in Quantico, Virginia in January 1999. He worked in the Cincinnati Field Office until his untimely passing last week at his home. Rex was an extremely patriotic person believing in his country and its constitution.

He is preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Arthur Harper and his paternal grandparents, J.D. and Lura Smith.

He is survived by his parents and two siblings, sister, Melanie Long and her husband, Dr. Jeffery Long of Manhattan, Kansas; one brother, Arthur Smith and his wife, Carrie of Paris, TN.; two nieces, Madison Long and Alyson Smith; two nephews, Matthew Long and Colin Smith; his maternal Grandmother, Loyce Harper of Vidalia, LA, and several Uncles, Aunts and Cousins. Pallbearers : Marine Corp Honor Guard Honorary Pallbearers will be the DEA Special Agent, co-workers of the Cincinnati Field Office in Cincinnati, Ohio.