DeWillis Smith

DeWillis John "D.J." Smith, 86, of Chattanooga, went to be with the Lord Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014, in a local healthcare facility after several years of declining health. D.J. joined the U.S. Navy at an early age during WWII. After returning to Chattanooga he attended Notre Dame High School. As a young man he loved to play football and was a champion Golden Gloves Boxer. When he graduated from high school he was employed by Western Union serving in the United States and abroad, he worked there for approximately 30 years, and when the company closed he became a security guard at Silverdale Penal farm and later worked in security at UTC. He was preceded in death by his father, John Smith; mother and stepfather, Mary and Charlie Early. Mr. Smith was never married and is survived by cousins, Helen E. (Demaree) Dillon, Chattanooga; Thelma Rodriguez, San Francisco, Calif.; Gwendolyn Puffer, Columbia, Tenn.; Carolyn Spurgeon, LaFayette, Ga.; Patricia Dixon, Chattanooga; De Willis Dixon, LaFayette, Ga.; DeDe and Rudolph Dixon, Washington, DC. Graveside service will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Chattanooga National Cemetery with Rev. Mark Carpenter officiating. Visit www.heritagefh.com to share words of comfort to the family. There will be no visitation at the funeral home. Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421.