Essie Smedley

Essie Joe Smedley (?Joe?) was born May 5, 1935 in Five Points, Alabama to the parents of Josie Smedley Johnson and Julius Todd. He was nurtured under the rearing of Ben and Estella Smedley.
After high school, Joe proudly served his country with the United States Air Force. While on tour with the Air Force, he met his beautiful and devoted wife, Marion Lottie (Green) Smedley, from Faber, Virginia with whom he shared 56 years of marriage until his death. From their union, they had two children (his pride and joy) Mechel Shelton and Vanessa Smedley. He was known as being a kindhearted, generous, and a devoted man who never met a stranger. He was always joking and never failed to say what was on his mind.
He was baptized at an early age at the ReHope Baptist Church in Five Points Alabama and was a member of New Prospect Baptist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. He retired from Jim Beam Distillery in 1995.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Josie Smedley, Julius Todd, Ben and Estella Smedley; his grandmother, Emma Robinson, his sisters, Sally Ruth Morris of Tennessee and Annie Ghoston of Alabama; and his brothers, Minister Sandford Johnson of Alabama, Nelson Todd of West Virginia and Richard Todd of West Virginia.
To cherish his loving memories are: a loving wife, Marion Smed-ley; two daughters; a stepmother, Mattie Todd of NJ; sisters, Mary Lou Smedley of AL, Janette Saunders of MD, Naomi Aikens of NJ, Barbara Todd of NJ, Lorene Deberry of CA and Roberta Barnes of GA; brothers, Julius Todd, Jr. of GA, Minister Leon Todd of VA, Scottie Todd of NJ and Russell Todd of Sweden; his motherly aunt, Hattie Watson of Cleveland; nine grandchildren who he gave nick-names, Dwanda ?Tootie?, Tamara ?Tambudle?, Tifanie ?Tippy Toe?, Amber ?Ampoo?, TaNesha ?Nesha?, Dominic ?Dominickel?, JoNessa ?Jo-Jo?, Frederick ?Freddy? and Jayla ?J-Mo?; six great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and his friend of 50 years, ?running buddy? Issac ?Ike? Ervin.