Max Howard Smith

Max Howard Smith, Sr. son of John Henry Smith and Rachel Viola Benford Smith, went to his Heavenly Home on March 3, 2026, in Mooresville, NC. Max was born on January 6, 1936, in Atlanta, Georgia. He grew up in Columbus, Georgia and was raised by his Uncle and Aunt, Carl and Bongie Wells, as well as his mother.

He was a lifelong member of the Southern Baptist faith. He was a true believer that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and the only way to an eternity with God was through his son, Jesus Christ, and his sacrifice on the cross.

Those left to remember Max are two sons from his first marriage to Gloria Boone. They are Max Howard Smith Jr. and wife Nancy of Long Beach, Mississippi and Christopher Rex Smith and wife Kelly of Victoria, Texas.

Max is survived by his wife, Nancy Grace Moore Smith, to whom he was married for 57 years. They have one son, Mark Andrew Smith, of Mooresville, North Carolina.

Max was preceded in death by a grandson, Christopher Dale Smith. He is survived by his wife, Grace, his three sons (Max, Christopher, and Mark), two grandsons, Shawn Nicholas Smith and Charlie Max Smith; three granddaughters, Lily Grace Morrison-Smith, Crystella Smith, and Johanna Smith.

In 2021, Max learned through a DNA analysis that he had a half-brother, Kim Kirchner. Kim was adopted at birth and only discovered his birth father’s name from Max due to the DNA findings.

Max worked for Social Security for 39 years. He worked in the states of Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, and North Carolina. His last assignment was District Manager of the Hickory, North Carolina District.

He lived for 37 years (1980-2016) in the community of Bethlehem in Alexander County and was a member of Antioch Baptist Church. He moved to Mooresville, North Carolina in 2016 to be near his grandchildren and son. In Mooresville, he became a member of Southside Baptist Church.

After retirement in 1999, Max became active in volunteer work. He worked with North Carolina Baptist Men going to disasters and working in meal preparation and distribution for those affected by the disaster. Max delivered Meals on Wheels and volunteered at a food pantry in the distribution of food. He volunteered with SHIIP in North Carolina in helping senior adults in selecting a drug plan or a Medicare plan. He was selected as the North Carolina volunteer of the year three times by SHIIP. He served on the Senior Center Advisory Board in Alexander County, and he was the alternate delegate to the North Carolina Senior Legislature for Alexander County. Through the Cooperative Extension Office in Alexander County, he received training as a Master Gardner and volunteered through that department.

At Antioch Baptist Church, he taught a Sunday school class of adult men, tutored elementary school students, and served on various committees. Perhaps his favorite activity was facilitating a Bible study class at the Alexander County Senior Center each Friday morning. He loved the unity among the participants from various denominations who might have had different doctrines but were united in their love for Jesus and one another.

In his later years, his grandchildren were the light of his life and he loved them dearly. To the time of his death, he served as his wife’s primary caregiver.

Funeral services will be held at Antioch Baptist Church in Taylorsville on Friday, March 27 at 3:00 pm. Visitation will be held at the church at 2:00 pm. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that gifts be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Alexander Funeral and Cremation Service.

Condolences may be sent to www.alexfuneralservice.com