J. Bernard Smith

J. Bernard “Bernie” Smith, 82, of Mt. Pleasant, passed away at his home Monday, Jan. 22, 2018, following a short period of declining health.

The family will receive friends on Friday, January 26 from 4:00 – 7:00 at Gordon Funeral Home.  Following Bernie’s wishes, no memorial service will be held at this time. 

A Cabarrus County native, Bernie was born Aug. 26, 1935, to Charles Eric Smith and Laura Crayton Smith. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by three brothers, Eric “Bill” Smith, Harry D. Smith and Walter Furr, and his wife of 41 years, Frances Efird Smith, who died in 1996.

In 1979, Bernie and business partner Benny Lawson co-founded Piedmont Asphalt Paving Co. in Salisbury. They operated eight asphalt plants and grew the paving and grading business into three divisions located in Salisbury, Winston-Salem and Wilmington. Bernie retired from the company in 1996 and returned to farming the land he loved, running another successful enterprise making and selling hay. Beyond enjoying his work as a contractor and a farmer, Bernie enjoyed fishing at the coast and headed east to get a line in the water as often as he could.

He was a member of Mission Baptist Church and Masonic Lodge No. 618 in Midland, where he was a Master Mason.  Bernie was also a lifetime member of The Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society and donated a number of items to the museum.

Bernie is survived by his son, David J. Smith, and wife, Denise, of Mt. Pleasant; three grandchildren, Cortney Smith, Brad Smith and Lindsey Rash; and one sister, Shirley Smith Furr.

Contributions in Bernie’s memory may be directed to Samaritan's Purse PO Box 3000 Boone, NC 28607 or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105