William Smith Jr
Age - 75
December 8, 2023
William Carr Smith Jr. aged 75, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend passed away on November 30, 2023, at St. Vincent's Hospital-Riverside in Jacksonville, Florida after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
The eldest son of four children born in Chicago, Illinois to William Carr Smith Sr. and Emily Waldruff Smith, he attended schools in Calumet City, Illinois. At Thornton Fractional North High School, he played trumpet in the band, ran track, and played some football. He always said he usually got in the game when they were certain it wouldn't affect the outcome. Track was more his forte. After graduating from high school, he went to Southern Illinois University earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. While attending SIU he married fellow student Diana S. Haehnel. They had three children before later divorcing. Carr attended the University of Chicago where he obtained a Master of Arts in English. While attending graduate school he worked various jobs to supplement his income including social case worker, railroad switchman and roundhouse worker. Unable to obtain a teaching job after finishing college, he went to work full-time on the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern railroad which was part of the U. S Steel in Gary, Indiana. After moving up to management from train master, he accepted a position with CSX in Baltimore, MD and then Jacksonville, FL. In his fifties he got his law degree from Florida Coastal School of Law and went to work at the Public Defender's office as a criminal defense attorney. Later he worked at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid assisting with landlord/tenant issues and representing persons with disabilities against state agencies to protect their benefits. The change in career dovetailed with a strong belief in public service, social justice, fairness, equality and just sincerely wanting to help people. He met and married Joy Sargent during this period.
As a man of deep faith, Carr was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church attending churches where he lived including Woods Memorial in Severna Park, MD as well as Riverside Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville, for several years. He worked on many volunteer missions to provide aid after natural disasters and with Habitat for Humanity. In his spare time, he enjoyed the outdoors, camping, canoeing, kayaking, and hiking, not to mention live music concerts. Memorable canoe camping trips included the Boundary Waters in Minnesota and the Okefenokee Swamp in GA. If there was a folk, acoustic, bluegrass or gospel concert happening in town, he tried to be there. He also sang in the St. Augustine Community Chorus.
After retirement he was on various Sierra Club committees working to protect the environment and prevent abuse of natural resources. He and his wife Joy took trips to Ireland, the UK, and a road trip up the east coast to Canada. Any trip included exploration of backroads but not always on purpose.
Carr was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 16 years, Joy Sargent-Smith of Jacksonville, sister Jeanne Hammond (Dave) of Jacksonville and Chicago, brothers Gary Smith (Jodi) of Chicago, Bryan Smith (Sheryl) of Auburn, GA, Children Jenna Smith (Steven Oberhoffer), Baltimore; Andrew Smith, Alexandria, VA; Emily Smith, Baltimore, MD; Grandchildren William (Liam) Carr Smith III, Lily Smith and Travis Smith all of Alexandria as well as nieces, nephews and extended family.
Memorial Service arrangements are pending and will be posted at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make a charitable donation in his memory to a charity/nonprofit such as Feeding NE Florida, Sulzbacher Center, City Rescue Mission, Jacksonville SPCA, WJCT Public broadcasting, North Florida Land Trust or Sierra Club.Show more
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