John W. Smith,
Owner of four Funeral Homes
John W. Smith, owner of the Smith-Jackson Funeral Home of Danville and the Smith Funeral Homes of Frankfort, Lexington and Nicholasville, got his start in Danville in 1939 when he came here to become associated with what was then the Jackson Funeral Home, owned by Ashby Jackson. He bought a half-partnership interest in 1939 and the name of the firm was changed to include those of both partners. He purchased the other half of the business in 1945 and retained the name which was, by then, well known.
A native of Nicholasville, Mr. Smith attended Atlanta University High School and was a student at Morehouse College of Embalming for two years. He was married in 1939 to Miss Evelyn Truitt of Atlanta. They have two sons, Norman B. Smith of Atlanta and Michael M. Smith of Danville.
The Smith-Jackson Funeral Home, operated at 106 West Walnut Street, was destroyed by fire. Mr. Smith then purchased the old “Woodcock House” at 446 Bate Street, one of the old historical homes of Danville which was designated by the Kentucky Heritage Commission as “Crutchfield House.” Mr. Smith completely remodeled the home into the present modern quarters of Smith-Jackson Funeral Home.
