Mack Allen Smith, 84, died peacefully on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, at Indywood Glen in Greenwood.
Mack Allen was born in Carroll County to Malcolm Alonzo Smith and Fannie Mae Herbert Smith on Oct. 20, 1938. He was a member of Christ Baptist Church in Greenwood.
An avid singer/performer since high school, Mack Allen was well known for his band, Mack Allen Smith & The Flames.
Mack Allen was influenced at an early age by the country music performed by his mother’s musical family, the Herberts, and by the blues and gospel music he heard during his childhood.
He attended J.Z. George High School, where he was lead singer of the J.Z. George FFA Band. The FFA Band won the state FFA Band Championship two years in a row when Mack Allen was its lead singer. He graduated in 1956.
Mack Allen entered Holmes Junior College in September of 1956. While there, he formed The Carroll County Rock and Roll Boys. That band would later be renamed Mack Allen Smith & The Flames.
In January 1957, Mack Allen joined the Marine Corps. He was stationed in San Diego for boot camp. After boot camp he was transferred to Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California. After his tour of duty ended in 1959, Mack Allen returned to Carrollton and reformed the Flames.
While music was Mack Allen’s first love, he married the love of his life, Lois Bennett, in 1960. They were married 59 years until Lois’ death in June of 2019.
During the early 1970s, Mack Allen owned and operated the Town and Country Night Club, where he and The Flames performed most every weekend. At the same time, he was attending college and received his bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1976. Mack Allen used his degree working for the federal government as a compliance examiner of savings and loans. Later on after he took early retirement, he worked as an insurance salesman.
Mack Allen wrote many songs throughout the years and has a catalog of more than 100 original songs. Also during his lifetime, he toured in Great Britain, performing at several venues. Mack Allen recorded numerous singles and albums throughout his career at studios such as Sun Records in Memphis and at studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He also recorded for Fat Possum Records, among others.
In addition to being an accomplished singer/performer, Mack Allen was a published author, having written three books and five children’s stories for his children, which were passed down to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
An honor Mack Allen was extremely proud of was being inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in Nashville. In October of 2021, Mack Allen was honored with a community marker commemorating his career with The Flames. He was very humbled by the honor and any time his daughter took him to the doctor in Jackson, on the way home he wanted to stop and see the marker, which stands at the Carrollton Community House, where Mack Allen and The Flames performed many, many times.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Lois Bennett Smith. Mack Allen is also survived by a brother, Barry Smith (Judy) of Coila. Mack Allen’s surviving children are Cindy Smith Brown (Rick) of Greenwood and Allen Smith of Brandon. Also surviving are his granddaughter, Karen Blackburn of Greenwood, and his grandson, Jerry Dale Blackburn III (Kathryn) of Cleveland. Mack Allen also leaves two great-grandchildren — who were his greatest joy — Lucas Lormand and Ansleigh Lormand, both of Greenwood. Had he lived a few more months, he would have loved his future great-granddaughter, Vera Leigh Blackburn, who is due to be born in May of 2023.
Funeral services will be held at Williams & Lord Funeral Home in Greenwood on Saturday at 11 a.m., with visitation from 9 to 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery in North Carrollton. The Rev. Lanny Haley will officiate at the services.
Pallbearers will be Mike Smith, Chad Smith, Brad Smith, Jerry Dale Blackburn III, Hayden Brown and Brien Ables. Honorary pallbearers will be all members of The Flames from throughout the years and all other musicians with whom Mack Allen has had the pleasure of working.
Williams & Lord Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. An online guestbook may be signed at www.williamsandlord.com.
