Mississippi College Alumni Leader Rev. Bill Smith Dies

Rev. William "Bill" P. Smith III

A longtime Mississippi College alumni leader who was active in his Baptist church in Tupelo and in missions work overseas, the Rev. William “Bill” P. Smith III died June 10 while vacationing with his family in South Carolina.

Smith, 74, was former missions director of the Lee County Baptist Association. The Portsmith, Va. native was recently named Alumnus of the Year at Mississippi College and was to be recognized for this noteworthy achievement at MC's 2010 Homecoming in October.

Smith suffered a cardiac arrest while swimming in the ocean with his granddaughter in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Mississippi College leaders are saddened by the loss and note his long record of outstanding service to the Baptist-affiliated school in Clinton.

“When I think of Bill Smith, I think of a truly faithful alumnus who always worked hard to promote the college,” MC President Lee Royce said Monday. “He was deeply, deeply good.”

Smith is a former president of the Mississippi College Alumni Association and served on the Board of Trustees. He faithfully attended board meetings, MC Choctaws football games and other events on the Clinton campus. Mississippi College has more than 30,000 alumni.

In a column Sunday in the “Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal” in Tupelo, editor Lloyd Gray said Smith was one of those who always had the good of the community first in his mind.

“Bill was retired after a long stint as director of missions for the Lee County Baptist Association and as a church pastor, but whenever there was an occasion that brought the community together to celebrate achievements and to contemplate challenges, he was there,” Gray wrote.

“His Christianity was of a kind that evoked action on behalf of God's people to break down barriers and improve lives. It's been said that Bill Smith's prayers at public events were more like mini-sermons.”

Rev. Smith received a bachelor's degree in speech at Mississippi College in 1959 with a minor in Biblical Studies. The Tupelo resident received a master of divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and later a master of philosophy from the University of Mississippi.

The Southern Baptist minister pastored churches in Yalobusha, Clay, Madison and Lee counties in Mississippi. He served as the Lee County Baptist Association Director of Missions for 20 years before retiring. Upon retirement, he stayed active in mission work with North American Mission projects as well as traveled to Honduras and Venezuela to serve in International Mission projects. He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Tupelo where he was ordained in 1962 and taught Sunday School classes.

In October 2001, Smith was nominated to serve as president of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board. He was also active in Tupelo civic projects, including the Tupelo Luncheon Civitan Club where he served as club president in 1973-74. He later served Civitan International as governor of the Mississippi North District.

Smith was one of the founding members of the Greater Tupelo Ministerial Alliance. Throughout his career, he worked to establish relationships among people of faith across racial and denominational lines.

An avid physical fitness enthusiast, Smith enjoyed being with his family, traveling, reading and mission work.

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Mary Ellis Perkins Smith, one son, Paul M. Smith, one daughter, Catherine Smith Cagle, and other family members, all of the Tupelo area. Services are 3 p.m. Monday at Calvary Baptist Church with burial to follow at Tupelo Memorial Park. W.E. Pegues Funeral Directors will be in charge of arrangements.

Memorial donations may be made to the Calvary Baptist Church Building Fund, 501 West Main Street, Tupelo, MS 38804 or to the Mississippi College Scholarship Fund established by Bill and Mary Ellis Smith, Box 4005, Clinton, MS 39058. Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com.