Eddie Leon Smith

Eddie Leon "Popa" Smith

March 21, 1944 - March 25, 2026

Eddie Leon Smith, affectionately known as "Popa," passed away on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. He was born on March 21, 1944, in Fort Payne, Alabama - and he lived every one of those years the way God intended - faithfully, generously, and with a joke always at the ready. Born and raised in Fort Payne, Alabama, Leon was as devoted to his Crimson Tide as he was to everything else he loved - completely and without apology. Rarely seen without his Alabama gear, the one thing his family will miss most is hearing him say those two beloved words - "Roll Tide."

Leon was, in every sense of the word, the Lord's servant and a faithful member of Georgetown Baptist Church for 59 years. He didn't just talk about his faith - he lived it out loud. If anyone needed him, he was there, immediately and without condition. It didn't matter if you were family, a friend, or a stranger - Leon showed up.

For over 30 years, Leon poured his work ethic and determination into his trucking company, Classic Express Inc. At home, he was always building something, fixing something, or piddling with a new project. Leon didn't do idle.

He called his girls his Sugar Plums - Sugar Plum 1, Sugar Plum 2, and Sugar Plum 3 - and Brittany, his number one, carried that title as one of the greatest honors of her life.

Leon lived his life in a way that when he reached those gates, there was no doubt he heard the words he'd spent a lifetime earning - "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

He was preceded in death by his mother, Vera Dean Smith; his father, Van Smith; his brothers, M.V. Smith and Stanley Smith.

Leon leaves behind to cherish his memory His devoted wife of 59 years, Shirley Woody Smith; his daughter, Sherry Smith; his granddaughter, Brittany Turner, and her husband Silas Turner; Eugene, who holds a special place in this family alongside Sherry; his sisters, Dorothy Duff and Charlene Hood (Raymon); and several beloved nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at Companion Funeral Home in Cleveland, Tennessee. Visitation will be Thursday, April 2 from 2:00-6:00 PM, with a Celebration of Life to follow at 6:00 PM, officiated by Leonard Castleman and Gerald Atkins. Graveside services will be held Friday, April 3, at 1:00 pm @ Sunset Memorial Gardens. The family will be leaving the funeral home at 12:30 pm in procession to the cemetery.

serving as pallbearers will be Steve Massingill, Bill Woody, David Tankersley, Robbie Garren, Blake Garren, Russell Durand, and Kingston Carroll.

Ken Blankenship, Johnny Hall, Kevin Felton, Stacy Fransisco, and the Men's Sunday School Class of Georgetown Baptist Church will be serving as honorary pallbearers

The family welcomes flowers in celebration of Leon's life. Memorial donations may also be made to Georgetown Baptist Church in his memory.

You are invited to share a personal memory of Leon or your condolences with his family at his online memorial located at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral Home of Cleveland and the Cody family are honored to assist the family with these arrangements.