Charles “Charlie” Barringer Smith (81) died peacefully after a short struggle with cancer, November 19, 2018. He was born July 30, 1937 to Ted and Annette Smith (deceased) of Tunica, Mississippi.
A 1955 graduate of Tunica High School, Charlie attended Mississippi State University for two years before enlisting in the Army. In the Army, he spent two years in Germany playing football but eventually returned to Mississippi State to complete his Bachelors of Science in Business Administration. While a student, he played fullback on the Davis Wade field where he earned the nickname Dozer for splitting many a football helmet.
After graduation, Charlie worked in the oil field but returned to Starkville to start a hog production operation. This endeavor led to losing his ring finger in a hog accident. In the customary Charlie way, his missing finger became a comedy act and entertained many an intrigued child and often an adult.
After selling his farm, Charlie worked for Farm Bureau as an insurance agent and eventually opened a Nationwide Insurance Agency where he ran a successful business for over forty years until he retired. Charlie was an active member of Starkville for many years where he was a member of the Starkville Exchange Club and Grace Presbyterian. After retirement, Charlie enjoyed many hours drinking coffee at the bank with his Starkville friends.
Charlie was an avid hunter until later in life when he became sentimental and didn’t have the heart to pull a trigger. Fishing was his enduring passion and his deep freezer was proof. He often was out with his fishing buddies in his boat nicknamed “the hawg caller” at Grenada Lake fishing for bass, or in Louisiana in the Empire Queen hauling in Redfish and Trout, or fishing with the grandkids in the many ponds and lakes around Starkville. If he wasn’t fishing or at the bank, he was with his true love, Cherry, his wife of 32 years, watching squirrels and birds at the birdfeeder in their back yard.
Charlie leaves behind an adoring wife, Cherry (McMullen) Smith; two sons, Barry Smith and John Smith (wife Mary Celeste Reese); two step children, Amy Jenkins Zischke (husband Brian) and Shannon Jenkins (wife Emily); seven grandchildren, Rianna and Zane Smith, Mary Ainsley and Anna Bryan Zischke, Peyton and Landon Jenkins, and Stone Reese; his older brother, Colonel Gene Smith (wife Lynn), several nieces and nephews, many life-long friends.
Visitation will be held Saturday, November 24, 2018 at Grace Presbyterian from 12:0 0 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. with services immediately following. Memorials may be sent to Grace Presbyterian Church, 525 Academy Road, Starkville, MS 39759.