John D. “Buddy” Smith, 69, passed away on Thursday, June 23, 2016, in Yazoo City. He is
survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Phyllis Smith; his daughter, Suzanne Deaton of
Madison; his son, Shane Smith of Yazoo City; his granddaughter, Ana Deaton of Madison; his
sisters, Mary Elizabeth Smith of Yazoo City and Elaine Glisson of Spartanburg, South Carolin
He was preceded in death by his brother, Robert Edward Smith, and his sister, Mildred Ann
Myers.
Buddy, a lifelong Mississippian, was born to John S. and Mattie Belle Smith in Yazoo County
January 14, 1947, the youngest of five children. He received his A.A. from Holmes Communi
College, where he played basketball, and his B.S. in Physical Education from the University of
Southern Mississippi. He began his career as the head basketball coach and social studies teach
for Bentonia High School, his alma mater. For part of that time, he also served as coordinator
the Yazoo Community Action Summer Youth Program and as the Drug Education Specialist fo
the Yazoo County School District. His basketball teams at Bentonia won the State Championsh
Title in 1982 and 1984. He later earned his M.Ed. in Education Administration from Mississip
College and then served as principal of Bentonia High School and Yazoo County High School
for 12 years. After serving two years as Technology Director for the Yazoo County School
District, he was elected Superintendent of Yazoo County, serving until his retirement in 2006.
He returned briefly as Interim Superintendent for the year 2010.
Buddy had an easy way with people and became a trusted friend to many. He will be
remembered for a life of loving his family, cherishing his friends, and serving his community.
A memorial service will be held at Parkview Church of God in Yazoo City at 2:00 p.m. on
Monday, June 27. A visitation will precede the service at noon. In lieu of flowers, donations
may be made in Buddy’s memory to Friends of Children’s Hospital (www.foch.org/give or
601-936-0034).
