"The Anchor Holds" is a familiar church tune you would usually hear on Sunday afternoons, but this Friday afternoon it is a reminder of a major loss in the Columbia community.
Today family and friends paid their final respects to Columbia’s former Mayor Rodney Smith.
Smith served the Columbia community as mayor from 1985 to 1988, a Third Ward Council member for three terms and as the Boone County Northern District Circuit judge in 1976.
However, Smith’s family and friends said his main job was serving and spreading the message of the Lord.
Smith enjoyed volunteering at Camp Cedar Crest, coaching little recreation sports and working with his son in the family business.
The office administrator for Memorial Baptist Church Pattie Willis said, Smith attended the church for 65 years, and was a man devoted to serving his church and others.
“He was very quiet but yet you could always tell he was thinking of what ways he could help and different areas he could serve and uh just be a contribution to the community and to areas where he needed to be,” Wallis said.
Smith also served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and later joined the U.S. Army Reserves in Columbia, where he served for 37 years until his retirement.
Smith leaves behind his wife Alberta of 65 years, six kids, eighteen grandkids and six great grandchildren.