Emmett Smith, Jr.

Emmett B. Smith, Jr. (77) passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at Drew Memorial Hospital in Monticello, Arkansas on the evening of September 8, 2019. Emmett is survived by Barbara Magee Smith, his loving wife of 59 years, his daughters, Memorie Dickson (and her husband, Dave), Dana Carol Smith, and three granddaughters, Meredith Sprecher (Andrew), Anna Dickson, and Katherine Dickson, three brothers, Gary Smith (Laura) of Keystone Heights, FL and Donnie Smith (Betty) of Meridian, MS, and one sister, Diane Daughdrill and husband Wesley of Prentiss, MS.Emmett was born and spent his youth in Prentiss, Mississippi. He lived most of his life in Hazlehurst, Mississippi where he was a teacher, football and track coach, and athletic director at Hazlehurst High School. Emmett spent over 40 years in the insurance and financial services industry. During this time, he hired and trained over 1,000 insurance agents and managers. He was also inducted into Equitable’s Hall of Fame.Emmett was an active member of First Baptist Church, Hazlehurst, Mississippi, where he served as a deacon and taught Sunday school for 40 years. Emmett will be remembered as a dedicated student and teacher of the Bible. He was an avid reader, with a special interest in Christianity and sports. In 2010, Emmett published Athletes of the Bible, where he used athletics as a metaphor for the Christian life.A service will be held at Whitesand Baptist Church in Prentiss, Mississippi on Thursday, September 12, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. Family visitation will be held one hour prior to service time at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Baptist Church, Hazlehurst, Mississippi, or Whitesand Baptist Church, Prentiss, Mississippi.