Edward A. "Eddie" Smith

ECHO COMMUNITY…Mr. Edward A. “Eddie” Smith, a resident of the Echo Community, died Sunday afternoon, February 1, 2026, at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was 53.

Funeral services, with fire department honors, will be held at 3:00 P.M. Thursday, February 5, 2026, in the Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Bryan Robbins officiating. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 3:00 P.M. Thursday at the funeral home.

Mr. Smith was born on September 28, 1972, and grew up in the small town of Pinckard, where he learned the values of hard work, kindness, and community that shaped the rest of his life. He graduated from Dale County High School in 1992, and later from Wallace Community College in 1997 with a degree in Paramedicine—a field he chose because he truly wanted to help people.

Serving others wasn’t just something he did; it was who he was. He began his career with the Dothan Airport Fire Department in 1992, and in 1997 he joined the Dothan Fire Department, where he proudly served until his retirement in 2022. His coworkers knew him as someone they could count on, someone who stayed calm in the toughest moments, and someone who always put others first. After retiring, he continued his lifelong commitment to helping others by serving as the Director of Echo EMS. He also was a member of the Dale County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team (SRT), serving as the medic. Earlier in his career, he also worked with Pilcher’s Ambulance and CARE Ambulance in Dothan, touching countless lives along the way.

Outside of work, he was happiest when surrounded by the people he loved. He enjoyed simple moments—spending time with family, cooking and entertaining, casting a line in the water, or heading into the woods to hunt. He especially cherished time with his grandchildren, who brought him endless joy. If it involved being outdoors or being with the people he cared about, he was content.

He was a man of faith and attended Ozark Baptist Church, where he found comfort, community, and purpose.

Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his grandfather, Max Thomley, and his paternal grandparents, Cody and Mamie Smith. Their memory remained close to his heart throughout his life.

He leaves behind a legacy of service, love, and quiet strength—one that will continue to live on in the many people who were blessed to know him.

Surviving relatives include his wife, Carolyn Smith, Echo Community; four sons, Houston Smith (Kayley) and their children, Annie Smith and Wyatt Smith, all of Skipperville, Haisten Smith (Chelsie), Peyton Hicks (Olivia), and Mason Swihart, all of Echo Community; his parents, Ray and Sherrie Thomley Smith, Pinckard; maternal grandmother, Yvonne Thomley, Pinckard; other relatives, Danny and Brenda Enfinger, Webb, Bryan and Marolyn Robbins, Prattville, and Michael and Anna Barron, Dothan; numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Serving as active pallbearers will be Jake Robbins, Austin Robbins, Andy Smith, Danny Enfinger, Josh Burk and Mitchell Tucker. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be members of the Dothan Fire Department, Echo Fire & Rescue, and the Dale County Sheriff’s Office.