Alvin Curtis Smith, 73, a resident of Brookhaven for 66 years,passed away peacefully in New Orleans, La., on Feb. 19, 2011, fromnatural causes. Mr. Smith, born Feb. 2, 1938, in Houston, Texas,was the son of the late Curtis Callendar Smith and Naomi StarbuckSmith.

After graduating from Brookhaven High School in 1956, Mr. Smithattended Copiah-Lincoln Junior College and worked as a disc jockeyfor local stations WJMB and WCHJ. He graduated from the Universityof Mississippi in 1960 where he pledged SAE and served in multiplecapacities, including vice president his senior year. In addition,he founded, with other young conservatives, the Young RepublicansClub at Ole Miss, participated in student body politics, and servedas business manager of the university yearbook, “Ole Miss.”

Upon graduation, he moved to Jackson, working in the insuranceprofession, and returned to Brookhaven in 1959, purchasing SmithInsurance Agency from the late Andrew G. Smith, from which herecently retired. Mr. Smith was active in Brookhaven civic clubs,serving as president of both the Kiwanis Club and the Jaycees. Hewas elected to the board of directors of State Bank and TrustCompany in 1972, was also serving on the Mississippi School of theArts Foundation. Mr. Smith was diligently serving at the time ofhis passing.

Mr. Smith actively served in the Republican Party throughout hisadult life. Between his early days with the Ole Miss YoungRepublican Club to his later years as chairman and finance directorof Citizens for Senator Thad Cochran, Mr. Smith served as LincolnCounty Republican Party Chairman, and a member of the MississippiRepublican Executive Committee. Mr. Smith loved his country andthose who knew him well will always remember the copy of theDeclaration of Independence and the United States Constitution thathe kept at his right hand.

Mr. Smith is survived by sister, Jane Smith of Jackson; nieces,Amy Foster Ryan of Woodville, Cindy Day Alexander, of Metairie,La.; nephews, Randy Day of Metairie, and Donnie Foster of Rayville,La.; and dear friends, Stephen Swain of New Orleans, and James andPatricia Perkins of Brookhaven.

In lieu of flowers, Mr. Smith would appreciate donations toMississippi School of the Arts Foundation, P.O. Box 229,Brookhaven, MS 39602-0229.

Funeral services for Mr. Smith will be held at 3 p.m. onWednesday, Feb. 23, 2011, at Harrigill Funeral Home Chapel, withburial in Hawkins Chapel Methodist Cemetery on Zetus Road inBrookhaven. The Rev. Ron Kitchens will officiate.

Visitation is Wednesday, from 1:30 p.m. until the time of theservice at the funeral home.