Danny Smith

DANNY L. SMITH Tupelo - Danny Lynn Smith, 67, passed away Sunday, March 15, 2015 at home after a brief illness. Danny was a lifelong Lee County resident, he was born February 3, 1948 to Thomas Earl and Dollie Mae Chism Smith. A 1967 graduate of Saltillo High School, he then went on to attend Itawamba Community College before serving in the Army where he was stationed in Germany. Danny was in the grocery business for forty years. In 1980, he and Bob Knight purchased Todd's Big Star in Tupelo from Mr. James Todd. In 2002, they purchased Todd's Okolona Food Center, where Danny later retired in early 2013. Danny was a very active member of both the Tupelo and Okolona communities being in many organizations including, Tupelo Breakfast Civitans, Okolona's Chambers of Commerce, American Legion post 49, National Rifle Association and Harrisburg Baptist Church. He enjoyed outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing. He was such an avid hunter, for the past 20 years, he and his hunting buddies traveled to Colorado to hunt elk and mule deer. Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 18, 2015 at the Jefferson Street Chapel of W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors with Rev. Franky Smith, Rev. Greg Jones and Rev. Jeff Smith officiating. Graveside services will follow at Lee Memorial Park. Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Violet Griffin Smith; one daughter, Michelle Lynn Layton (Kevin) of Tupelo; one son, Robert Allen Smith of Tupelo; one granddaughter, Laura Ashton Layton of Tupelo; four brothers, Tommy Smith of Guntown, Billy Smith (Jan) of Guntown; Jerry Smith (Debbie) of Saltillo and Franky Smith (Dortha) of Iuka and one sister, Mary Lee Smith Jones (James "Red") of Mantachie. He was preceded in death by parents, Thomas Earl and Dollie Smith; one sister-in-law, Mary Ann Smith and his grandparents, Frank and Mary Smith and Buford and Minnie Chism. Pallbearers will be Dwight Smith, Donovan Smith, Eric Jones, Brad Minich, Dewayne Smith and Joey Cole. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Jay White, Dr. Forrest Tutor, Ralph Pound, Bob Knight and Tommy Walters. Visitation will be 5 until 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at W. E. Pegues, Tupelo. Memorials may be made to any charity of choice.