Colonel Kenneth "Ken" Richard Smith

The family will receive friends from 9:00am until 11:00am on Thursday, May 16, 2024 at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl. The funeral service will follow that same day at 11:00am in the funeral home chapel with burial afterwards at Floral Hills Memory Gardens in Pearl.

Kenneth Richard Smith was born December 19, 1936 to the late Casey and Grace Smith in the Mississippi Delta, at home, in the corner of a 100 acre cotton field, between Shaw and Indianola. In 1942, at 5 years old, he started to school at Hale school close to Shaw, in a grade called the Primer, a grade before 1st Grade. In late December that year, the family moved to Choctaw County, about 6 miles from where his Dad grew up, on a 220 acre farm, 4 miles east of Ackerman, and he entered Ackerman Public School in the 1st grade. Kenneth grew up on the farm there and graduated high school in 1954. Upon graduation, he went to work in construction, working for various contractors where he specialized in drywall finishing, painting, and wall covering. In 1956, he joined the Army National Guard in Ackerman, Company A, 1st Squadron, 108th Armored Cavalry Regiment. On May 25, 1957 he married the love of his life, Bessie McCulloch, and they moved to Jackson in 1958. During this time, he continued in the National Guard in Ackerman where the unit was reorganized to A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 114th Artillery. In 1961, a new National Guard Unit was organized in Brandon, C Company, 114 Engineer Battalion, and Kenneth transferred to it becoming a Construction Foreman, and then the Acting 1st Sergeant. In 1962, Kenneth entered Officer Candidate School and graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant that same year. During that time the Brandon unit was reorganized to the 113th Military Police Company as it remains today. In 1964, Kenneth started his own Painting and Wall Covering Business and continued until 1970. During that time, he Commanded the 114th and the 113th Military Police Companies. In 1970, Kenneth accepted employment full time with the Army National Guard as a Training/Operations Officer in the 112th Military Police Battalion. Kenneth continued working for the National Guard, becoming the Battalion Executive Officer and the Battalion Commander. In 1980, he became the Operations officer at the Troop Command and in 1981, became the Chief of Staff for the Troop Command. In 1983, he was selected to be the Force Structure Officer for the Mississippi Army National Guard and later the Mobilization and Readiness Officer where he was promoted to Full Colonel. In 1991, he was appointed as the Plans, Operation, and Training Officer for the Mississippi Army National Guard and a member of the Adjutant Generals' Staff where he retired in December 1993. Colonel Smith was awarded numerous awards and decorations during his 37 and one half years of National Guard Service, culminating with the Legion of Merit and the Mississippi Magnolia Cross. After that, Kenneth accepted a Position as a Civilian State Employee fulltime in the Facilities Management Office of the Army National Guard until 2000 and then worked in that office part time until 2006.

In his retirement, he enjoyed working in his woodworking shop, having a garden, maintaining 5 acres of yard, and helping children and grandchildren with their home projects.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by all of his siblings and by grandson, Kenneth Russell Smith.

Survivors include his loving wife of 67 years, Bess; sons, Kenneth "Don" Donald Smith (Karen) and David Smith (Dolly); daughter, Sarah Smith Weathersby (David); ten grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and a host of beloved extended family members and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Crossgates Baptist Church of Brandon, Mississippi in memory of Ken to go towards their "Now4Next" fund at https://crossgates.churchcenter.com/giving which supports the upcoming generation of Believers.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.baldwinleepearl.com for the Smith family.