Janie Williams recalled her son Joseph Wayne Smith’s excitementwhen he got his driver’s license – and with it made his decision tobe an organ donor.

“I never thought I’d need to know that,” Williams said of Joey’ssigning the back of his license to make his organs available.

That changed Oct. 15, 2003, when Smith died in an accidentalshooting at age 20.

When speaking with representatives from the Mississippi OrganRecovery Agency, Williams said her first inclination was to say no.But then she remembered her son’s decision and his enthusiasm.

“I knew I had to do it, and I’m so thankful,” Williams said.”Meeting two of the four people who received his organs has been ahealing process.”

The organ recipients, Richard Curtain, of Hattiesburg, and MarkWarren, of Boynton Beach, Fla., were present Tuesday for acommemoration and tree-planting service at Kids’ Kingdom in honorof Smith and other local donors. Curtain received Smith’s heart andWarren his liver.

With congestive heart failure and other cardiopulmonaryproblems, Curtain, now 62, told Tuesday’s audience that doctors didnot expect him to live past December 2000.

“I said it wasn’t going to be the end of the line; I’ll eitherget a retread heart here or a perfect one in heaven,” said Curtain,recalling a conversation with his family at the time.

Curtain said he persevered through 40 heart catheterizations, 18stints and other procedures until God gave him his “second chance”last October. He urged potential donors to tell family members.

“The wishes of this young man were made known, and new life wascarried on,” Curtain said.

Warren, 55, said he had been at the top of the priority list fora liver for five weeks when he received word of an available organlast Oct. 16.

“That day changed my entire life and future,” Warren said. “Myfamily knew I had a chance to live.”

Warren said Smith’s spirit would live eternally in heaven whilethe tree would remain as a physical reminder.

“His memory and presence will be here in Brookhaven forever,”Warren said. “This tree will stand for that.”

James Laird, MORA family service coordinator, said the tree wasthe fourth to be planted in Brookhaven. He said the decision toplace it at the community playground was made after talking withWilliams and her talking about Smith’s work with the youth atchurch.

Joey’s father, Wayne Smith, of Monticello, was also present forthe tree ceremony.

“I’m proud of the people who are doing this in memory of Joey,”Smith said as people tied green ribbons to the tree planted nearthe Kingdom pavilion. “I’m glad his organs are helping someone livelonger in their lives.”

Williams said one woman in Alabama received one of her son’skidneys while a man in Minnesota received the other kidney andpancreas. She has not met either of those recipients.

“It is because of him that four people are living longer today,”Williams said. “Joey gave a wonderful gift: the gift of life.”

The gift, though, sometimes may not be given if family membersdo not know what the donor wants. Williams said she was glad herson became a donor and was able to help others.

“It is so important to not only discuss with your family, butalso what you want to give,” Williams said of organ donation.