Individual Details

Death

Harold Shelby Smith, 87, died at St Dominic hospital in Jackson, MS Wednesday, May 16, after a brief illness. Services will be held at North Greenwood Baptist Church on Saturday, May 19, 2012 at 11a.m. preceded by a visitation in the church parlor at 10a.m. Committal services will be at 3p.m. at Trinity Chapel in Parkway Memorial Cemetery, Ridgeland, MS. Harold was born December 16, 1924 in Allen, MS. He is survived by his faithful wife, Mary Tucker Smith. They were married for 64 years. He is survived by two children, Barbara Winborne and her husband David, Jimmie Harold Smith and his wife Tammie. Four grandchildren, Shelby Smith and his wife Jennifer, Wesley Smith and his wife, Holly, Ashley Birdwell and her husband Jason, Lesley Brinkmann and her husband Eric, and nine great grandchildren. Harold was preceded in death by his parents, Grover Cleveland and Bertha Furr Smith, brothers Walter and Victor Smith, sisters, Elise Boothe, Jennie Rose Kelly and Fannie Laverne Humphreys. Harold graduated from Union Church, MS high school in 1943. Upon graduation he was inducted in the US Army Infantry. He served in WWIIEuropean Theatre. He was in the Battle of the Bulge earning two purple hearts, two bronze stars, combat infantry badge, five battle stars and good conduct medal. After returning from WWII in 1945, he attended Capiah Lincoln Jr. college and married Mary Tucker in 1947. He was employed by MS Products of Jackson, MS in 1948 as a timekeeper. Harold worked his way up to Vice President of the company. After leaving MS products in 1971, he was employed as plant manager of Baldwin Piano & Organ Company in Greenwood, MS. In 1983 he and his co-worker purchased Baldwin Piano & Organ Company where he remained until his retirement in 1993. At that time he started his own mortgage and loan company and operated it until 2009. While at Baldwin he was president of LADD Furniture Company of North Carolina, served as past director of MPI. Past president and director of Greenwood Leflore Chamber of Commerce, Past director of First Federal Savings and Loan of Greenwood, MS Manufacturing Association, Leflore County Boys Club, Greenwood Lions Club, Salvation Army, Greenwood Leflore Airport Commission, Member of Delta Council, MS Economic Council, Elk's Club, Farmer's Club, Greenwood Country Club and North Greenwood Baptist Church. Pallbearers will be Noll Davis, Will Lott, Billy Bowman, Eric Brinkmann, Shelby Smith, Wesley Smith, Mark Miller and Jason Birdwell. An online guestbook may be signed at www.wilsonandknight.com.
Published in Clarion Ledger on May 18, 2012