Jai Verrall

Jai was born in Georgetown, Grand Cayman. Through the providence of God, he was brought to live in Tyler, Texas at the age of 6 years. Upon his graduation from John Tyler High School in 1989, Jai enlisted in the United States Navy where he served aboard the USS Truxtun and the USS Sacramento as a Mess Specialist. He cooked for around 1000 servicemen daily. He never learned how to cook for a normal-sized family. From his earliest childhood until just days before his death, Jai’s sense of humor distinguished him and made him a favorite of all who knew him. His quick wit, sarcasm, and self-deprecating humor enabled him to brighten every room, as well as face each hardship that he experienced with a light heart and contagious smile. From the rapid onset of blindness, through his final battle with cancer, Jai was never without jokes and a humorous take on each situation. He was a devoted but devastated fan of his Dallas Cowboys, and loved to watch and discuss sports and the prospects of future victories for his teams. By God’s grace, Jai was drawn to the Primitive Baptists and served the church by helping out in the kitchen for several years. He especially found great joy in helping with the Salt & Light Conference and other church meetings in Tyler and Mississippi. In December of 2022, he united with Tyler Primitive Baptist Church through a profession of faith in Jesus Christ and water baptism. Jai has been a faithful member of Tyler Church and is loved by each one in his church family. Jai was preceded in death by his adoptive father, William Verrall; his biological father and mother, Albert Jackson and Juanita Elaine Lake; brother, James Kelly Smith; grandmother, Grace Smith; great nephew, Payton St. Clair. Jai is survived by his mother, Ramona Patterson Bennett; brother, Jerry (Susan) Smith; sister, Shane (Jon) DeHorney; sister, Leah (Mark) Woodruff; nieces, Jennifer Manziel (Shannon Thomas), Sierra Verrall Morris, Alyssa DeHorney, Lauren DeHorney, Morgan Woodruff ( Kris Roberts), Vivian Hale, Halie Woodruff, and Maddie Woodruff; nephews, Shawn Smith, Michael Clark, Brian Smith, James Smith; also survived by Caymanian birth family: sisters, Sherry Ann Smith (Barreck Bodden), Nekita Saintvil, Alexandria Saintvil, Leonna Saintvil; brother-in-law, Thorr Wesley Gibson Scott; brothers, Asis Smith, and Kenmore (Ammerica) Jordan Sr.; nephews, Jason Carter, Jerrin Carter Kenmore Jordan Jr., Jaden Smith, Brevon Watson, Kevron Clarke, Symeon Clarke, Jhaiyre Willis, and Thorr Wesley Gibson Scott II; nieces, Jenna Watson, and Naomi Davis. Services will be held on Sunday, January 14, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at Tyler Primitive Church in Tyler. Visitation is scheduled one hour prior to service. Burial will follow service at Rose Lawn Cemetery in Tyler. Make donations to Tyler Primitive Baptist church 6502 Old Jacksonville Hwy, Tyler, Tx 75703 https://tylerpb.org in honor of Jai Verrall.

Jai Verrall

October 7, 1969 - January 9, 2024