C. L. "Smitty" Smith

C.L. "Smitty" Smith of Biloxi MS passed away at his home on Monday, April 4, 2011. "Smitty" Smith was born on Feb 28, 1947 and was a native of Taylors, SC but came to love and call the Mississippi Gulf Coast and especially Biloxi his home. He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Tamera Schulz Smith. He was preceded in death by his father, Clarence Lee Smith II and is survived by his mother, Jewel Odom Smith and aunts, Maudie Smith and Joyce Phillips all of Taylors, S.C. He is the father of four children, Candace Cox of Atlanta, GA, Gina Finan of New York, NY, Benjamin Finan of Denver, CO and Madison Russo Smith of Biloxi, MS. He was a graduate of Memphis State University, Cum Laude, 1973 and he did his Post Grad Studies at the University of MO, and Columbia Wharton School, Philadelphia. His focus was on Healthcare Administration and he spent the last 35 years working in the Healthcare Industry primarily in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. He served his country proudly as a member of Vietnam Veterans Echo Co 2nd BN 3rd Marines US Navy Corpsman from 1966-1970 and received an Honorable Discharge. He was most proud of the prestigious Purple Heart with a Gold Star in lieu of second award, Bronze Star, Navy Communication Medal with Combat V, Meritorious Unit Citation,et al. Smitty first came to the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 1980 for a 3 year period as CEO Of Gulf Coast Medical Center and returned again to take the same position in 1992. He has remained on the Gulf Coast since that time and has been involved in Healthcare Administration/Consulting and Physician Development and Recruiting. He was devoted to his community and many civic organizations, he served on many boards over the years, some of which were; the Biloxi Rotary Club, Advisory Board of the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum, Former Board of Director for Biloxi Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors of Biloxi Economic Commission, Leadership Board of Coast Community Bank, Graduate of Leadership Gulf Coast, Committee Member of Archie Manning Cystic Fibrosis Golf Classic. He was a member of Fatima Catholic Church. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Biloxi on Monday, April 11, 2011 followed by a mass. Interment will follow in Biloxi National Cemetery with military honors. In lieu of flowers the family request donations in memory be made to Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Pass Road, Biloxi is in charge of funeral arrangements.