Herbert Merrill Smith

Herbert Merrill “Herb” Smith, 81, of Burnsville, MS, died Friday, March 4, 2016, at the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, MS, as the result of congestive heart failure and pneumonia complications. Mr. Smith was born August 5, 1934, in Glen, MS, and was raised in Burnsville, MS. He graduated from Burnsville High School in 1953, and then went on to a distinguished Naval career, attaining the rank of Lieutenant before retiring from the United States Navy and returning to Tishomingo County. Herb became the second appointed Port Director of Yellow Creek State Inland Port in Iuka, and was instrumental in the recruitment and negotiation process which brought Monotech of Mississippi to Iuka as well as several other industries serviced and supplied by Yellow Creek Port in the mid to late 1980’s. Herb was a handyman extraordinaire and had many interests in his life. He traveled the world during his Naval career, but his biggest passion and true joy was fishing for both saltwater and freshwater species. He was a regular customer at the Goat Island boat ramp for most of the crappie season with his favorite fishing partner, his son. In his later years, as his health declined, Herb spent more time in his adopted hometown of Belmont where he enjoyed another passion, numismatics. He spent numerous hours in his coin shop looking through coins. This enabled him to meet and make a lot of new friends which he enjoyed tremendously. The last year of his life was difficult due to a broken hip which occurred in 2015, but his wife Mildred provided constant care and companionship during this time while Herb was confined to a walker and wheelchair. Visitation is scheduled for 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Sunday, March 6, at Cutshall Funeral Home in Glen. Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Monday, March 7, graveside at Chapel Hill Cemetery in Burnsville, officiated by Bro. Larry Hill. Interment will follow in Chapel Hill Cemetery. Cutshall Funeral Home of Glen, MS is entrusted with arrangements. He is survived by his wife of 7 years, Mildred “Millie” Osborne Smith of Belmont; two sons, Steven Smith and wife, Sondra, of Senatobia, and Brian Smith of Oxford; one daughter, Kimberly Singhas; and one grand-daughter, LeighAnn Elizabeth Smith of Senatobia. Herbert was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert Malcolm and Mamie Booth Smith; and his wife, Joan Gilbert Smith.