TJ Smith

TJ Smith, 77, of Biloxi, MS died on Monday, November 15, 2010. Mr. Smith was a member of the Biloxi public school system from 1956 to 1975. He began his career as an assistant football coach and a social studies teacher. He established the first driver training program at Biloxi High School, as well as, at Keesler Air Force Base. While teaching driver’s education to foreign exchange students at Keesler, he jokingly said he felt fortunate to do so because he learned to say “Stop” in fifteen different languages. Later in his career, Mr. Smith was selected to serve as one of the first guidance counselors for Biloxi High School. While in the Biloxi School District, he considered his coaching career one of his highlights. Serving as end coach and defensive coach he led Biloxi to the Big Eight Championship of 1962. Mr. Smith also coached tennis teams for five years at BHS. His team won 55 regular season matches and lost only one, while winning three District Eight championships. Mr. Smith went on to serve as Principal of Fernwood Junior High from 1965 to 1969 and Principal of Biloxi High School from 1969 to 1975. After leaving the Biloxi School District in 1975, Mr. Smith continued his educational career as Director of Financial Aid at the Jefferson Davis Campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. While serving as Director of Financial Aid, he was named to serve on the state’s Post-secondary Education Financial Assistance Board. He retired as Dean of Business Services at the Jefferson Davis Campus in 1998. The family wishes to express its sincere gratitude to his doctors and the ICU staff of Gulfport Memorial Hospital. Mr. Smith is preceded in death by his first wife, Scottie Sue Smith; parents, Charles Collins and Lela Pinson Smith; six brothers, Harold, Hershel, Earl, Ed, Jimmy and Irby and one great-grandson, Elijah Earl Smith. He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Brenda Smith; daughters, Rhonda Boren (Bennie), Karla Smith, Stacia Lopes (Shawn); sons, Rick Smith (Judy), Ken Linthicum (Debbie), Derrick Linthicum (Kimberly); sisters, Margaret Burnett and Lois Smith; twelve grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Visitation will be on Thursday, November 18, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be on Friday, November 19, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. Friends may visit from 10:00 a.m. until service time. Both will be held at the Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Biloxi. The family prefers donations to the TJ Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Donations can be sent to the MGCCC Foundation, C/O the TJ Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund, PO Box 99, Perkinston, MS 39573.