Kenneth Joe Smith was born on January 7, 1953 to Oscar Epps and Dorothy Jean Maxie. He was surrounded by his loving family and close friends when God saw he was tired and called him home on July 12, 2025 at CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System in Texarkana, Texas.

He was united in marriage to Kathryn Peters on December 28, 1977. To this union God blessed them with two sons and four grandchildren.

Kenneth was a 1971 graduate of Linden Kildare High School where he was voted class favorite. He never met a stranger because he could and would talk to anyone. He always had a special talent of making people laugh and feel comfortable.

He retired from TXDOT in 2005 after giving them twenty-eight years of faithful service. His coworkers gave him the nickname "Gravy".

Kenneth was baptized and became a faithful member of St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dorothy Jean Maxie and Oscar Epps; one son, Cedric Peters; and three sisters, Debra Aubrey, Sharon Bailey, and Rhonda Epps.

He leaves to cherish his memories and celebrate his life, wife, Kathryn Smith (Atlanta, TX); son, Kenneth (Ken) Smith (Denton, TX); brothers, Oscar Epps Jr. (Belenthia) (Cedar Hill, TX), Anthony Maxie (Cherrell) (Naples, TX), and Sam Maxie (Atlanta, TX); sisters, Greta Epps (Cedar Hill, TX), Sharon Harrison (Jimmy) (Linden, TX), Katrina Johnson (Desoto, TX), Sundra McQuirter (Houston, TX), Kismet Roundtree (Dallas, TX), Demetrice Walton (Cedar Hill, TX), and Beryl Washington (Atlanta, TX); special friends, Mason D. Barrett (Amy) (Birmingham Alabama); and Snowball (Atlanta, TX).