Memorial services for Ronald Jerome Smith, of Summit, are 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 30, at Centenary United Methodist Church with visitation to follow in the fellowship hall. Hartman-Sharkey Funeral Home, in McComb, is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Smith, 75, died July 26, 2013, at his home. He was born in Brookhaven on December 11, 1937, to Jerome and Bessie Smith.

After graduating from Brookhaven High School in the class of 1955, he attended Mississippi State University where he received a B.S. in Education and an M.Ed. in Administration.

Mr. Smith was the first teacher of Distributive Education in the McComb School District and after teaching a number of years, was instrumental in the development of the Vocational/Technical program. He was administrator of Southwest Extended Care Nursing Home for many years, followed by a decade as medicaid supervisor for Southwest Mississippi.

An active member of Centenary United Methodist Church, Mr. Smith has served on many committees there. For 35 years he attended retreats at Manresa House of Retreats in Convent, La.

He was a member of both the McComb and Summit Rotary Clubs where he served as president, and was a Paul Harris Fellow. He has served on the Board of Summit Housing Authority for over 30 years.

Preceding him in death were his parents.

Survivors are his wife of 51 years, Carolyn, and their children, R. Blake Smith and wife, Denise, of Oxford, Amanda Rando and her husband, Steve, Harahan, La. and John Waits and his wife, Jennifer, of Brandon; his grandchildren, Austin, Jordan and Isaac Smith, Lauren, Jacob and Myles Rando and Ella and Miller Waits; several cousins, including June Applewhite and Karen Naron; and his beloved companion, Sam.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Brookhaven High School Class of 1955, Dr. E.J. Price, Jr. and Mike Wimberly.

The family wishes to express their appreciation to the staff of Hospice Ministries for their loving care of Mr. Smith.

Memorials may be sent to Centenary U.M.C., P.O. Box 712, McComb, MS 39649 or Hospice Ministries, 1405 Aston Avenue, McComb, MS 39648.

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