Welcome Wayne SmithShreveport - On Thursday, October 19, 2017, Welcome Wayne Smith passed away peacefully, following a sudden illness. The family will receive friends from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 22, 2017, at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home on Mansfield Road. Funeral services will be held in the chapel of Centuries Memorial Funeral Home at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 23, 2017, with Reverend Mel Cambell officiating. Interment will immediately follow at Centuries Memorial Park in Shreveport, Louisiana.Wayne was born on January 30, 1938, in Pickton, Texas, to Ruth Woods and Jodie Smith. He moved to Shreveport, Louisiana in 1943, grew up in the Inglseside neighborhood, and was baptized at Ingleside Baptist Church in 1949. He attended Claiborne Elementary School, Lakeshore Junior High, and graduated from Fair Park High School in 1956. After graduating high school, Wayne attended Kilgore College on a football scholarship. Wayne returned home to Shreveport after college, where he met his future wife Jean Bromell. They were married on October 1, 1965, and had celebrated thirty-seven years of marriage prior to her death on May 3, 2002. Wayne joined the Shreveport Fire Department on August 29, 1961, and spent most of his career at Fire Station 14. He achieved the rank of District Chief and retired from the SFD in October 1993 after 33 years of faithful service.Wayne's greatest love in life was his family. His best friend, confidant, and pride and joy, was his son Tracy. Together, they had hunted or fished daily for the past 42 years. Wayne was Tracy's constant companion and their daily routine will be dearly missed. He also loved his three granddaughters, who lovingly referred to him as "Pops," and never missed a chance to spend time with them. He often accompanied them on field trips, picked them up from school, and attended a variety of activities in which they participated. Wayne also enjoyed spending time with a special group of high school friends, including his longtime companion Cynthia. They enjoyed playing cards, going to dinner, watching football, and travelling. Wayne was preceded in death by his parents Ruth Woods and Jodie Smith and by his wife of thirty-seven years, Jean Bromell Smith. He is survived by his son, Tracy Wayne Smith and wife Emily and his three granddaughters, Leah Katherine, Madeline Jean, and Meghan Claire. He is also survived by his sister JoNell Jerome and his longtime companion Cynthia Sweatman. Wayne leaves behind many other cherished family members and friends.Serving as Wayne's pallbearers will be Bobby Cannon, Kip Mourad, Kenny Conley, Don Blackwell, Ricky Spataro, Vince Henderson, James Pope, and Jack Barron. Honorary pallbearers will be James Cubley, Terry Howard, Cedric White, and Richard Parker.The family would like to thank the Willis Knight Pierremont emergency room staff and cath lab, especially Dr. Jonathon Davis and Dr. Randy Del Mundo.