Joseph Michael Smoak

Joseph Michael “Mike” Smoak was a man who loved God, his family and his country.

He passed away in the morning hours of October 21, 2025. Mike was known for his generosity, doing random acts of kindness for others, and was a man whose handshake never met a stranger. 

The oldest of seven children, Mike was born in Charleston, SC on June 7, 1938, and later moved to Beaufort, SC where he graduated high school in 1956. Following graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and was stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base where he met and married Marie Brown. After his military service, Mike was employed by Bell South (AT&T) and moved the family to the community of Stonewall in 1970.

Mike believed in service to others and at various times, served on the DeSoto Parish Police Jury, was a member of the Stonewall Town Council and was Chief of Police of Stonewall for eight years. He and several others began the first volunteer fire department in Stonewall. 

He and Marie enjoyed the simpler things of life in the small community. They joined Salem Baptist Church in 1973 and began a life of service to the church. He served on many committees and was still leading a senior adult Sunday School class in his late 80s. Along with his family, they enjoyed gardening, trail rides, hunting, fishing, and softball. He and Marie enjoyed traveling on their motorcycle or in their RV. He often reminisced on the surprise they got when they returned from an extended RV trip, and their children had put a “for sale” sign on their home. 

Mike was active in many civic organizations. He was a 50+ year member of Cedar Grove Lodge #403, serving as Master of the Lodge in 1970. He was a member of El Karubah Shrine and served as captain of the Arabs in 1999. He was also a member of Mithra Grotto, MOVPER, and was a past Monarch. He served two years as the president of Pelican Travelers RV Club. 

After Marie’s death, he married Brenda Johnson in 2001 and the two began new adventures together. They travelled to all 49 contiguous states in their RV and made countless new friendships and enjoyed numerous experiences. Mike often said that to see Niagara Falls was to absolutely believe in God.

At age 87, he was still employed by Enterprise Car Rental and making new friends. He stayed busy in his golden years, willing to cut grass for anyone who needed him. He was a man that was at peace when he was busy doing for others. 

Mike was preceded in death by his first wife, Marie Smoak; his parents, Mendel and Miriam Smoak; and his brother, Pat Smoak.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Brenda Hill Smoak; his brother, Jerry (Jan); his sisters, Connie Berblinger (Mike), Gwen Robertson (Donny), Janet Byrd (Keith) and Darlene Jones (Johnny); his children, Ernie Smoak (Peggy), Jana McAdams (Ben), Javis Smoak (Elizabeth), and Brenda’s children, Robert Lambert (Stephanie) and Sheila Arinder (Randy); twelve grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers are Mickey Smoak, Seth Russell, Mitchell Arinder, Mason Arinder, Coleman Arinder, Aaron Smith, Carson Boudreau, Chase Lambert and Joseph Lawson. Honorary pallbearers are Ben McAdams, Jeremy McAdams, and TJ Lambert. 

Visitation will be held at Salem Baptist Church from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 23, 2025. Services will follow at 2:00 p.m. Burial will be at Stonewall Cemetery. Officiating the service will be Dr. Mike Hawkins. Memorials can be made to Salem Baptist Church building fund.