Richard Y. Smith

A family graveside service for Richard Y. Smith will be held Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. from Good Hope Cemetery in Neshoba County with Rev. Dudley Winstead officiating. Mr. Smith, 91, of the Good Hope community, passed away April 26, 2020, in Neshoba County Nursing Home Swing Bed Unit. He was a native and lifelong resident of Neshoba County. As a young man, Richard worked at Wells-Lamont for some 25 years. He served as Justice Court Judge of Districts 1, 4, and Place 2 of Neshoba County for 20 years. He was an avid outdoorsman where he loved to fish, hunt, and garden. After retirement he truck cropped until age 89. Until his later years he was a faithful and lifelong member of Good Hope Baptist Church. He retired from the Army National Guard after 20 years. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Eva Jean; three children, Dwight (Jan) Smith, Debbie (Eddie) Jolly, both of Philadelphia, MS, and Melody Jones of Meridian, MS; eight grandchildren, Brooke (Craig) Clay, Lindsey (Dusty) Goforth, Tracy (Harold) Blocker, Evie (Edward) Pullin, Spencer Harvey, Hunter (Gillian) Smith, Michael Smith, and Layla Brewer; 14 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, and their families. Mr. Smith is preceded in death by his parents, Wheeler and Delia Smith; son, Michael “Mikey” Smith; great-grandchild, Jagger Brewer; sister, Mary Elizabeth Branning; brothers, J. C. Smith and Wheeler Edd Smith. A very special “Thank You” to Dr. Kevin Beason, Dr. Dwight Keady, Dr. Todd Willis, the staff of Neshoba County Hospital and Nursing Home. You were all great! In lieu of flowers, friends may donate to The Gideons International, or Good Hope Baptist Church Building Fund, or your favorite charity.