Billy Eugene Smith

Mr. Billy Eugene Smith Sr. (Smitty), 73, of Cleveland, MS went to be with the Lord on Thursday, October 8, 2020 A visitation honoring his life will be held Wednesday, October 14, 2020 from 10-11:30 am with a Celebration of Life Service to follow at 11:30a.m. at Ray Funeral Home. A Military Graveside will be held at North Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Kilmichael, MS at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday. Billy was born November 19, 1946 to Abner and Vina Smith in Shaw, MS. He enlisted into the Army in March of 1965 at age 18. Upon entry, he was attached to 1st Battalion 7th Cavalry B Co (Garry Owen). He was sent into Vietnam in December 1965 as replacements for soldiers that had been killed and wounded in the Battle of Ia Drang at LZ X Ray. He returned home from Vietnam in September 1966. During his time in service, he was awarded 3 Purple Hearts, an Air Medal, Combat Infantryman's Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 3 stars, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 device. When Billy returned home from war, he began working in construction and farming until he began driving a semi-truck across the country. He loved to drive, and he could tell you how to take every back road from one side of the coast to the other. After driving for several years, he worked at Circle H Farm in Cleveland. Billy continued working until side effects of Agent Orange being sprayed on him in Vietnam began to affect his health. This soon led the DAV to give Billy a rating of 100% disabled. Billy stayed actively involved in every city he ever lived in. He was a member of the Cleveland American Legion, VFW, Patriot Guard, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart. Billy was a simple man, loved God, his family, his Vietnam brothers, and a good home cooked meal. Billy never met a stranger. He did not care who you were or where you came from, he would spend hours talking to you if you gave him the opportunity as he valued good conversation. Billy had big heart and if there was someone in need, he would have taken the shirt off his back to help them out. He had the heart of David, and David was a man after God's heart. Billy was very proud of all of his children, and if you met him you heard about it. Billy lived his life fighting hard for everything he had while loving everyone he came across unconditionally. Billy is proceeded by his wife, Beverly Smith; parents Abner and Vina Smith; brothers Ab Smith and AD Smith; sisters Bobbie Ledford and Thurma Brown; and grandson, Josh Smith. Billy is survived by his children; Belinda and Larry Gilbert of Eupora, MS and their children Larry, Kody, and Richard; Billy Jr. (Bubba) and Melissa Smith of Tupelo, MS and their children Steven, Austin, Ryan, Daven, Shelby, Bryson, Aiden, and Paxton; Lisa and Jeromey Weinert of Savannah, GA and their children Allyson (Ally) and Charlee; Jonathan Smith of Marietta, GA; Chris Smith of Cleveland, MS; Brandi and Jay Frazier of St. Mary's, GA and their children Brett, Dan, and Cooper; Phillip Gianini of Cleveland, MS; John and Elizabeth Gianini of Oxford, MS their child Olivia; and 11 great grandchildren.

Visitation honoring Smitty

10:00 am - 11:30 am Wednesday, October 14, 2020
Ray Funeral Home 206 Bishop Road Cleveland, Mississippi, United States

Celebration Of Life Service

11:30 am - 12:15 pm Wednesday, October 14, 2020
Ray Funeral Home 206 Bishop Road Cleveland, Mississippi, United States

Military Graveside Service

2:00 pm - 2:30 pm Wednesday, October 14, 2020
North MS Veterans Memorial Cemetery 2 Legion Rd Kilmichael, Mississippi, United States 39747