Wayne Smith isn’t sure how aware his dad is aware of COVID-19.
It wouldn’t be the first time William “Jack” Smith was unaware of a global pandemic.
Born in 1917, Jack Smith was a year old when the Spanish Flu devastated the United States and Europe, claiming an estimated 50 million lives.
On Friday, Smith turned 103, which means he’s seen two of the greatest pandemics in history. Staff at Windsor Place in Columbus, where Smith has resided since 2014, marked the occasion with a party including a birthday cake in Mississippi State colors, whose sports teams Smith has followed with enthusiasm for decades.
Smith wasn’t quite up to an interview, but his son said he has a pretty good idea of how his dad would respond to questions about the pandemic.
“I don’t think he would be worried about it,” said Wayne Smith, 78. “I never remember him ever being worried about anything. He is a Christian man. He had his trials and tribulations like everybody else. But he would just turn it over the Lord and not worry about. I think that’s part of why he’s lived so long.”
Jack Smith grew up near Brooksville and lived there all his life except for his years in the military during World War II.
“He was a welder and machinist,” Wayne said. “He helped build the Babcock & Wilcox building in West Point. They finished the job at noon, and after lunch they offered him a job.”
Jack worked at the plant, which made industrial boilers until its closure in 2016, for 40 years, retiring at age 63.
“He carpooled from Noxubee County to West Point for 40 years,” Wayne said. “Then, he and my mother started some greenhouses in Brooksville and had a very successful business.”
Jack and his wife, Lottie, were married for 81 years until she passed away in November 2018. She moved into Windsor Place in 2013. Jack followed a year later.
“They would eventually end up in the same room together where he would lovingly dote on his precious Lottie until her passing,” said Misty Holder, the admission coordinator at Windsor Place.”
Wayne, and his older sister, Faye Morgan, 81, both live in New Hope and visit their dad regularly.
He’s still the same happy, gentle person they have known since childhood.
“He’s always been a happy, jolly man,” Wayne said. “He never was one to let things get him down. He persevered.”
Today, Jack enjoys watching TV in his room, most notably MSU football games.
“He’s been a State fan forever,” Wayne said. “As a matter of fact, I think he got one of the first cowbells that ever came along.”
Holder said “Mr. Jack” has become a favorite of the Windsor staff.
“He likes to do things his way and has a bit of a quirky sense of humor,” she said. “Up until the pandemic his son would visit almost daily, and other family members would come by at times too. The staff enjoy taking care of him and consider it an honor to do so.”
Aside from the typical frailties associated with being more than 100 years old, Jack remains remarkably healthy.
“Who knows?”” Wayne said. “I’m 78. I might wind up being his roommate the way it’s going.”
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
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