Robert Smith
December 23, 1921 — December 5, 2011
Robert Smith
Robert Emil Smith, 89, of Cleveland, Mississippi, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, December 5, 2011. Mr. Smith died at Bolivar Medical Center in Cleveland, Mississippi. Celebration of life services will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday, December 9, 2011 at First United Methodist Church of Cleveland with Rev. Billy Owen and Rev. Harold Robinson. Visitation will be from 12:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Friday, December 9, 2011 at First United Methodist Church of Cleveland. Burial will immediately follow in New Cleveland Cemetery.
Mr. Smith was born on December 23, 1921 in Cleveland to Charles Milton Smith and Emma Seelbinder Smith. He graduated from Cleveland High School. He attended Mississippi State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in the School of Agriculture. At Mississippi State he was a member of the SAE fraternity. In addition, he also did graduate work at Delta State University.
Mr. Smith was very devoted to his country and served her courageously in World War II. He attended Officer's Training School in Fort Know, KY., and upon graduation served as an officer in the Tank Division in Europe where he participated in the liberation of Paris, the Battle of the Bulge, and fought the Germans 1300 miles across Europe. He was a Platoon Leader with five tanks under his command. At the conclusion of the war, he received the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze stars, the American Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal and was discharged as a First Lieutenant.
Upon his return from the war, Mr. Smith taught discharged veterans in an agriculture class, while farming on the side. He then owned and operated a dairy farm for ten years. After selling his dairy farm, he began to raise cotton and soybeans. Eventually he stopped raising cotton and became one of the first farmers in the Mississippi Delta to grow rice.
Mr. Smith was a lifelong and devoted member of the First Methodist Church of Cleveland, where he was a member of the Board of Trustees and Administrative Board, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Men's Bible Class and past President of the Men's Club, as well as being voted the Man of the Year in 2004. In 2010, he was chosen as philanthropist of the year in the state of Mississippi. In addition, he also contributed a substantial endowment to the church as well as donating a parking lot and building to house the church bus and van in honor of his mother. He also provided poinsettias and lilies to senior citizens and shut-ins during the holiday season.
Mr. Smith was actively involved in Delta State University. He was both a member of the Delta State University Foundation Board of Directors and the local Wesley Foundation's Board of Directors, which is a student organization sponsored by the United Methodist Church. He created six scholarships in the nursing school program at Delta State University. He helped in the planning and completion of the New Wesley Foundation's work on the campus of Delta State University.
Mr. Smith's other accomplishments include being a member of Farm Bureau Association, VFW, American Legion, Mississippi Rice Growers Association, Benoit Outing Club, City and County Planning Committee of Bolivar County, the Lion's Club, Delta Council, and was President of the Bolivar County Planter's Club in 1975.
Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Emma Smith and two brothers, Milton and Clarence Smith. Survivors include his two daughters and their husbands, Emily Jane Cameron (Fridge) of New Orleans, LA and Mary Dianne Lee (Jesse) of Whitney Point, NY; and a granddaughter, Anna Victoria Cameron of Los Angeles, CA.
Pallbearers will be Jack Fletcher, Mike Brister, Jerry Ainsworth, Eddie Willis, Jim Hunter McCaleb and Wally Ashley. Honorary pallbearers will be First United Methodist Church Men's Bible Class, A.V. Henry, , Nott Wheeler, O.W. Miller, Bill Bizzell, B.C. Ruth, Hal Gerrard and Otha Tedford.
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm Friday, December 9, 2011
First United Methodist Church 318 S Court Street Cleveland, Mississippi, United States
2:00 pm Friday, December 9, 2011
First United Methodist Church 318 S Court Street Cleveland, Mississippi, United States
New Cleveland Cemetery North Bolivar Road Cleveland, Mississippi, United States
Mr. Smith was born on December 23, 1921 in Cleveland to Charles Milton Smith and Emma Seelbinder Smith. He graduated from Cleveland High School. He attended Mississippi State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in the School of Agriculture. At Mississippi State he was a member of the SAE fraternity. In addition, he also did graduate work at Delta State University.
Mr. Smith was very devoted to his country and served her courageously in World War II. He attended Officer's Training School in Fort Know, KY., and upon graduation served as an officer in the Tank Division in Europe where he participated in the liberation of Paris, the Battle of the Bulge, and fought the Germans 1300 miles across Europe. He was a Platoon Leader with five tanks under his command. At the conclusion of the war, he received the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze stars, the American Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal and was discharged as a First Lieutenant.
Upon his return from the war, Mr. Smith taught discharged veterans in an agriculture class, while farming on the side. He then owned and operated a dairy farm for ten years. After selling his dairy farm, he began to raise cotton and soybeans. Eventually he stopped raising cotton and became one of the first farmers in the Mississippi Delta to grow rice.
Mr. Smith was a lifelong and devoted member of the First Methodist Church of Cleveland, where he was a member of the Board of Trustees and Administrative Board, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Men's Bible Class and past President of the Men's Club, as well as being voted the Man of the Year in 2004. In 2010, he was chosen as philanthropist of the year in the state of Mississippi. In addition, he also contributed a substantial endowment to the church as well as donating a parking lot and building to house the church bus and van in honor of his mother. He also provided poinsettias and lilies to senior citizens and shut-ins during the holiday season.
Mr. Smith was actively involved in Delta State University. He was both a member of the Delta State University Foundation Board of Directors and the local Wesley Foundation's Board of Directors, which is a student organization sponsored by the United Methodist Church. He created six scholarships in the nursing school program at Delta State University. He helped in the planning and completion of the New Wesley Foundation's work on the campus of Delta State University.
Mr. Smith's other accomplishments include being a member of Farm Bureau Association, VFW, American Legion, Mississippi Rice Growers Association, Benoit Outing Club, City and County Planning Committee of Bolivar County, the Lion's Club, Delta Council, and was President of the Bolivar County Planter's Club in 1975.
Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Emma Smith and two brothers, Milton and Clarence Smith. Survivors include his two daughters and their husbands, Emily Jane Cameron (Fridge) of New Orleans, LA and Mary Dianne Lee (Jesse) of Whitney Point, NY; and a granddaughter, Anna Victoria Cameron of Los Angeles, CA.
Pallbearers will be Jack Fletcher, Mike Brister, Jerry Ainsworth, Eddie Willis, Jim Hunter McCaleb and Wally Ashley. Honorary pallbearers will be First United Methodist Church Men's Bible Class, A.V. Henry, , Nott Wheeler, O.W. Miller, Bill Bizzell, B.C. Ruth, Hal Gerrard and Otha Tedford.
First Visitation
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm Friday, December 9, 2011
First United Methodist Church 318 S Court Street Cleveland, Mississippi, United States
Service Information
2:00 pm Friday, December 9, 2011
First United Methodist Church 318 S Court Street Cleveland, Mississippi, United States
Interment Information
New Cleveland Cemetery North Bolivar Road Cleveland, Mississippi, United States
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