Houston Polk Smith

Houston Polk Smith, 88, died Wednesday, December 27, 2017, at his place of residence. Mr. Smith was a resident of The Claiborne at McComb located at 209 Doug Rushing Drive, McComb. Prior to his residency at The Claiborne, Mr. Smith resided at his home located at 1239 Meadowridge Drive, Monticello.
Mr. Smith was born September 22, 1929 in Wanilla to Jewell Ripley and Lennie Mae (Polk) Smith. He enlisted in the United States Navy, where he earned the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy. During his twenty years of service in the U.S. Navy, Mr. Smith was engaged in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Following his retirement from the U.S. Navy in 1968, Mr. Smith worked as a computer engineer and executive officer at Burroughs Computer Corporation in Detroit, Michigan. He also taught Diversified Technology for eighteen years at Lawrence County High School in Monticello.
The funeral service was held Saturday, December 30, with a graveside service immediately following at the Monticello Baptist Church Cemetery. Reverend Tim McCaffrey and Reverend David M. Dennis presided over the services. Wilson Funeral home was in charge of the funeral arrangements.
Surviving Mr. Smith is his beloved wife of thirty years, Merrill Flowers Smith; his five children from his former marriage to June Ann Smith, Kari Lynn Johnson (Terry), Laura Charlene King (David), Ivy Diane Smith, Matthew Dean Smith (Suzy) and Michael Lawrence Smith (Yvette); his stepchildren, Annie Laurie Crosby (Joe) and David Malcom Dennis (Marla) and his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Preceding Mr. Smith in death were his father, Jewel Ripley Smith; his mother, Lennie Mae Kennedy (A.R. “Son”); his brothers, Harold, Stanley and Rodney “Excelle” Smith; his sister, Baby Girl Smith; his stepchildren, Michael “Mick” Dennis and Theresa Dennis Bullen; his grandson, Matthew Myles Smith and his great grandson, Zachary Paul McLeod.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Matthew Myles Smith Scholarship Fund, St. Aloysius School, 2025 Stuart Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, or to The Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, or to the charity of your choice.