June 7, 1939  –  November 17, 2024

TUPELO – Today is a sad day for our family as we grieve in the loss of someone so special to each of us! However, we rejoice in knowing that he has received the promise of his lifelong faith and now is in the presence of his Lord and Savior. Joy came to Hamilton Sport Smith, Jr. on Sunday morning, November 17, 2024 with loved ones by his side, as he was ushered into Heaven. His is now a glorious state of reunion with Jesus Christ and loved ones gone before. Hamilton S. Smith, Jr. was born to his parents, Hamilton Sport Smith, Sr. and Hoyte Derese Cherry Smith in their little white farmhouse in the Old Union Community west of Shannon. He was the youngest of 2 children. His sister carefully chose the perfect baby from the Sears and Roebuck Catalog and placed the order with the late Dr. Rome G. (R.G.) Dabbs who delivered him at home on June 7, 1939.

He grew up attending Shannon First Baptist Church and at age 13, during a summer revival led by Bro. Winford Moore (then pastor at Harrisburg Baptist Church), he accepted Christ as his Savior. This would become the most defining choice of his life. Hamilton loved the outdoors and his early years were spent on the family farm. School and chores were a must but in his free time, he enjoyed riding horses and an occasional mule with his friends. Over the years, there were several accidents requiring stitches and even casts but that never deterred the young cowboy from doing what he loved most.

He graduated from Shannon High School in 1957 with honors winning the coveted Balfour Award and where his mom was a legendary world history teacher. While he enjoyed all sports in high school, his mother enrolled him in the finer arts of piano and even dance classes with the late Mary Alice McAllister. She soon realized that wasn’t going to work and she encouraged him to continue in the sports he loved. While excelling academically, he spent high school years filled with 4-H Club and even served in Washington, D.C. as a Congressional page for the late Rep. Tom Abernathy. He was a member of the “Dixie Rhythm Notes” singing group led by Mrs. Faye McKinney.

A lifelong devoted Bulldog fan, Hamilton went on to Mississippi State University where he majored in Petroleum Geology. Immediately upon graduation from MSU, he was commissioned as an officer (Ensign) in the U. S. Navy and retired at 20 years with the rank of Lt. Commander. He married the love of his life, Brenda Carter, on September 24, 1963 in a small Naval Chapel in North Carolina. At his death, they were married 61 years.

Hamilton loved the family farm in the Old Union Community where he raised Brangus cattle and enjoyed being inspired by God’s beautiful creation and handiwork. An astute businessman, Hamilton was co-owner of Litco Exxon Petroleum Dealership for several decades. Civic minded, he was a former President of the Tupelo Exchange Club in 1978, President of the Miss. Brangus Breeder Association in 2007-2008, Past President and longtime Board Member of the Ms. Petroleum Marketers Association in 1986-1987 as well as sitting on the Exxon National Distributor’s Advisory Council.

He and Brenda were longtime faithful members of Harrisburg Baptist Church where he was a Sunday school teacher and Deacon for many years serving as Chairman of the Deacons in 1984. On Jan. 20, 2019, he took the status of Deacon Emeritus. A patriotic American and devoted Christian gentleman whose 85 years were spent living a purpose filled life, his priorities were God, family, Country and State and his profession. His humility and Christ centered living will long be a part of his legacy.

A Celebration of Life Service, with Naval honors, will be held at 2 PM Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at Harrisburg Baptist Church with Pastor Rob Armstrong officiating and former pastor, Dr. Forrest Sheffield delivering the eulogy. Burial will follow in Lee Memorial Park. Visitation will be from Noon-service time Wednesday only at the Church. Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo is honored to be serving their friends. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed at harrisburgonline.org.

Hamilton is survived by his wife, Brenda Carter Smith of Tupelo; his daughter, Cherry Carter Smith Tutor of the Old Union Community, and his son, Perry Hamilton Smith and wife, Rebecca Hopkins Smith of Nashville, TN; his grandchildren, Brooke Nicole Light (Zach) of Tupelo, Erin Christine McBride (Hamilton) of Greenwood, MS, Krista Leigh Knight (Dylan) of Clarksdale, Carter Joan Smith of Indianapolis, IN, Emery Hamilton Smith of Nashville, TN; his great grandchildren, Ashton Finney, Malachi (Max) Light, Judah Light, Hamilton Gray McBride, Jr., Warner Sport McBride and Krista Leigh Knight (Dylan) of Clarksdale, Ms. and a nephew, Steve Renfro and his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hoyte and Sport Smith, his sister, Cherry Derese Renfro (Ray, deceased), his mother and father-in-law, Andrew and Pearl Carter, and a brother-in-law, Randall W. Carter.

Memorials may be made to Harrisburg Baptist Church, 4675 Cliff Gookin Blvd, Tupelo, MS. 38801, or to the Wounded Warriors Project, 4899 Belfont Rd, Suite 300, Jacksonville, Fla. 32256 or to Sanctuary Hospice House, P. O. 2177, Tupelo, MS 38803. Condolences may be posted on Hamilton’s obituary page at hollandfuneraldirectors.com.

Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.