Update: Yard Sale Bible Headed Back To Family Of Deceased Military Member

August 11, 2014

Update: After this NorthEscambia.com story was posted on Sunday, a family member was found and the Bible will be returned to the family on Tuesday.

An Alabama woman is looking to return the a Bible to the family of a deceased military member likely to be from the Atmore or Walnut Hill area.

Johnnie Smith of Monroeville found the Bible in box of old books and magazine  purchased at a yard sale in Atmore.  Inside the Bible, the dedication page says the Bible was presented in remembrance of Edwin Smith by the American Legion Post in Atmore on May 16, 2007.  The King James Version Bible was in a wooded box presented “in recognition of you loved one’s service to our country”.

“I cant imagine why a family member would want to sell it in a box of old books and magazines,” Johnnie Smith said.

If you  know how to reach the family of Edwin Smith, email news@northescambia.com with the details and your contact information; we will pass the information along to Johnnie Smith.

Comments

7 Responses to “Update: Yard Sale Bible Headed Back To Family Of Deceased Military Member”

  1. Paul on August 11th, 2014 3:20 am

    Looks like it was presented at his funeral..Maybe time to let it go..nice gesture though..yes going through deceased belongings can be overwhelming and you just can’t hold on to everything.

  2. PD on August 10th, 2014 11:16 pm

    Yes. Funeral homes will normally have the contact number got the next of kin at the time of the funeral service. Of coarse there is no guarantee that it will still be a valid phone number, but it’s a good place to start! Hope it’s reunited with a family member though.

  3. homebody on August 10th, 2014 9:50 pm

    LITTLE ROCK – Mr. Edwin Smith, 86, passed away on Monday, May 14, 2007 in Little Rock.
    Mr. Smith was a native of Brewton, a former longtime resident of Mobile, and a resident of Little Rock for the past 15 years. A retired Master Sergeant from the U.S. Air Force, a Veteran of WWII, and a member of the American Legion, he was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, he demonstrated by giving up job for family, he was caring fun loving, generous and would sacrifice much to help others and attended the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Quitman, Miss. He was predeceased in death by a daughter-in-law, Roseanna Fraiser Smith.
    Survivors include: his wife of 63 and a half years, Margaret Morris Smith of Little Rock; two sons, David Joseph Smith of Little Rock and Edwin “Eddie” Smith of Flomaton; his daughter, Elsie Mae Smith and Roy D. McCollough of Waynesboro, Miss.; eight grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; his sister, Annie Laura Caro of Tillman’s Corner; five sisters-in-law, Flora Morris Black, Mary J. Ray, Jean Myrick, and Elizabeth Myrick, all of Little Rock, and Esther Ree Smith of Semmes; and three brothers-in-law, Billy Myrick, Aaron Myrick and Mack Myrick, all of Little Rock.
    Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 1 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Pastor Garey Tracey, Pastor Jamie Pumble, and Pastor Charles Flach officiating.
    Burial will follow at Little Rock Cemetery.
    Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 16, 2007 between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
    Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Lynn McCollough, Larry McCollough, Lee McCollough, Luke McCollough, Lonnie McCollough and Frank Loza,.
    Honorary pallbearers will be Conway Price, Jimmy Frost.

  4. just saying on August 10th, 2014 6:14 pm

    They likely sold or donated the box of materials to someone who sold them, including the Bible.

    Families do different things when loved ones die and they have to clean out a house. My father and uncles threw away lots of my grandmothers stuff and donated others. It can be overwhelming. They tossed things that had no meaning to them.

    I hope this turns out to be a feel good story where it was accidentally tossed and recovered, but……..its possible it didn’t mean anything to them, hence why it was in the yard sale in the first place. Just saying.

  5. 429SCJ on August 10th, 2014 7:55 am

    I remember when my aunt died, her friends threw away family pictures and sold the frames in a garage sale, even threw away the deed to the family cemetery plot up at Oak Hill..

    Hopefully Mr Smith’s family will be reunited with any and all lost family artifacts.

  6. serina on August 10th, 2014 1:39 am

    I actually know someone name Edwin Smith who goes by Wayne but I believe this may have been his fathers who he was named after. I just shared this on his facebook in hopes he will see it soon. Hope it helps ans good luck!

  7. me on August 10th, 2014 1:30 am

    Edwin Smith was born on October 23rd, 1920 and died on May 14th, 2007 at the age of 86. Edwin was buried at Little Rock Cemetery in Atmore, Alabama and was a veteran of the following wars: World War II

    Might wanna contact Petty-Eastside funeral home see if they have sons contact information of sons and daughter

    Mrs ‘morris’ smith (wife) passed away sept 1 2013