Irelon Smoak, 90, husband of Helen Saulisbury Smoak, entered into eternal rest on Sunday, October 23, 2022, at his residence surrounded by family.

Funeral Services will be held 12:00 PM Wednesday at Mt. Zion Baptist Church with Rev. Steve Mims and Re. David Mullins officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.  Pallbearers will be Robert Chitty, Robert Hughes, Michael Snipes, Frankie Thompson, Jr., Scottie Thompson and James Rhoades.  Visitation will be an hour before the service in the church. 

Irelon was born June 6, 1932, to Johnson and Reba Hiott Smoak in Ehrhardt, SC.  His career began as a hoist operator on a building at MUSC hospital in Charleston.  There he met and married Helen Saulisbury.  To this union was born four sons. Irelon and family traveled throughout Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina holding positions as dragline and all heavy equipment operations and installations, supervisor and foreman of water and sewerage pipelines.  He retired with Dorchester County Public Works in 1996. He was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Sunday School Adults Class, Indian Field Hunting Club and the former Adults on Mission. 

Surviving is his wife of 69 years, Helen Smoak; sons, Gary (Darlene) Smoak, John (Teresa) Smoak, Bill (James Rhoades) Smoak.  He had 5 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, 4 step grandchildren and many step great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a four-year-old son, Rex, his parents, and seven brothers and sisters.

In lieu flowers, memorials may be made to Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 114 Baptist Drive, St. George, SC 29477.