Aug. 15, 1950 – Sept. 25, 2019

NATCHEZ — Services for Billy “Porky” Smith, 69, of Natchez, who died Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, in Natchez, will be 2 p.m. on Sunday at Laird Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Tim Vanier officiating.
Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday and from 1 p.m. until service time Sunday at funeral home.
Mr. Smith was born Aug. 15, 1950, in Natchez, the son of Oscar Nolan Smith and Johnnie Mae Hall Smith.
Mr. Smith’s life revolved around his family, children and sports.  He was very involved with Natchez Dixie Youth league as a coach and commissioner for 43 years. His teams won many championships.   He was involved with athletics and the booster clubs at both Adams County Christian School and Cathedral.  He could talk sports with anyone, from the youngest to the oldest. With his positive and encouraging attitude, he left a lasting impression on the lives of many young people. He was an avid Ole Miss, Atlanta Braves and New Orleans Saints fan. He won the National Football Foundation award, the Unsung Hero award and was Employee Volunteer of the Year at Johnsmansville.   Friends and family were his life — he loved watching his grandchildren play sports and spending time in the summer at Lake St. John with his friends and family. Mr. Smith never met a stranger, and was a kind, gracious and generous man.

Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Betty Lou Smith; and one nephew, Dale Smith.
Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Deborah “Debbie” Smith; one son, Mike Smith and wife, Brandi, of Brandon; three grandchildren, Brandon Smith, Cannon Smith and Avery Anne Smith; one brother, George Smith of Richland; one sister, Jo Ann Magee of Natchez; 14 nephews, Eric Smith, Clint Smith, Justin Smith, Robert Magee, Donald Magee, Alton Magee, Kenneth Magee, Joey Nunnery, Brian Nunnery, Jon Nunnery, David Estes, Will Estes, Danny Smith and Mitchell Smith; two nieces, Renee Lofton and Miranda Williams; and special friends, Garnell Webb, JoJo Eidt, Terry Moffett, Boyd White, Clarence Bowlin and Lance Webb.
Pallbearers will be JoJo Eidt, Terry Moffett, Boyd White, Chip Sturdivant, Ron Rushing, and Lance Webb.
Honorary pallbearers will be Coach Ken Beasley, Neil Brown, Gene Lofton, Clarence Bowlin, Garnell Webb and Johnny Atkins.
Porky would like to thank George Cupit and the staff at Kidney Care Center for their care and support over the past year, and he would like to thank Phil and Linda Dear for taking Mike in like their own child.
Memorials may be made to Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at lairdfh.com.