Mr. Johnny E. Smoak

December 20, 1935 - December 23, 2020

Mr. Johnny Elijah Smoak, 85 of Sylvester, died on Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at his residence. The graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, December 28, 2020 Evergreen Baptist Church Cemetery with full military honors. The Rev. Todd Brooks and Rev. Fred White will officiate. Mr. Smoak was born on December 20, 1935 in Worth County, to the late Elijah Larsh Smoak and Nancy Champion Ryals. He had lived in Worth County since 1974 and was a U.S. Army Veteran of the Korean War. After his service, he started a career in the Apollo Space Program. He later moved to Georgia and started his second career as an air and heating engineer with Mars, Inc., until his retirement. Mr. Smoak was very well known in the community, having served as commissioner of Worth County and also as a crop insurance adjuster. He and his wife loved to travel, and meet new people. Mr. Smoak was a member of Evergreen Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School for many years. Survivors include his children, Terry Smoak (Tammy), Sherri Ward, Deborah Schirm (Gordon), Melissa Blackman, Stephanie Davis (Jeff) and Felicia Taborn (John); grandchildren, Carie Parks, Belinda Mayberry, Amanda Turpen, Scott Bowman, Jennifer Clark, Justin Bowman, Heather Lank, Rusty Harrison, Jessica Workman, Aidan Davis and Kalena Celeste Simonton; great grandchildren, BreAnna, Samantha, Tommy, Kaitlin, Cameron, Cole, Preston, RaeLynne, Rebecca Rayne, Brooklynn, T.J., Zack, Zoey and Alicia; great great grandchildren, Logan and Lynsey; siblings, Carol Handley (Lee), and Tom Ryals (Pricilla). In addition to his parents, Mr. Smoak was preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, Jean Bryant Smoak on March 22, 2020; daughter, Rebecca Smoak and a granddaughter, Tara McMillian. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 3:00 PM until 5:00 PM at Banks Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or to the Parkinson's Disease Association. Please sign our online guest registry at www.banksfh.com. Banks Funeral Home in Sylvester is in charge of arrangements.