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Obituary for Michael Allen Smith
Michael Allen Smith, 65, of Hampden Sydney, died on August 23rd, 2021, in the comfort of his home. He was born on October 26, 1955, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and was the son of the late Shofner and Ruth Ann Allen Smith. After a long career in finance and accounting in the oil and gas industry, Mike became the Controller at Hampden Sydney College in the Spring of 2012. He was a passionate servant of the college and considered his work there as the pinnacle of his professional life. For every instance where he was a firm advocate on behalf of the business interests of the college, there are ten of his heartfelt compassion and creativity in finding ways to keep good young men on ‘The Hill’. Mike is survived by his three siblings, Richard, David, and Barbara Smith (Martinez). He described his family, and their time growing up in Oklahoma, fondly. Mike was an aficionado of music, woodworking, history, his miniature Dachshund, Penny, and the Oklahoma State Cowboys, whose colors (orange and black) he could often be found adorned in. Known for his quiet wisdom and infallible sense of right and wrong, he should be best remembered as ‘the Godfather of fatherly advice’. When the original author uttered the phrase, “you’ve always gotta worry about the quiet ones,” they were thinking of Mike. He joked sarcastically, spoke softly, thought deeply, and loved unconditionally. His traditional countenance was subverted only during Oklahoma State football games, where he could be heard laughing hysterically at opponents’ penalties (merited or otherwise) or rolling his eyes at a draw play on third and long. Mike prioritized, above all else, the education and rearing of his children, Fulton Lee Smith, 33, of Greenville, South Carolina, William Read Smith (Wife, Lauren Porter Smith), 30, of Midlothian, Virginia and Meredith Ann Carter Smith, 29, of Richmond, Virginia. He found his ultimate purpose as a father. A deeply sentimental man, born to loving yet stoic parents, Mike was prone to sharing thoughtful memories after a margarita or two which, fittingly, was his final request before his passing. His children remember his stories fondly. In his final months, he enjoyed spending time with his first grandchild, Reid Harrison Smith, 11mo. (son of William and Lauren Smith), offering cuddles and tickles to Reid’s heart’s delight. Finally, and most importantly, Mike adored his best friend and wife, Lucy Carter Fulton Smith, whose passionate enthusiasm, extroversion, and unstoppable determination he deeply admired. This was best exemplified in the final months of his life, where his dry wit and impatience catalyzed to bring an impressive number of personal affairs to an efficient yet irreverent close, all with the aim to “make sure Lucy Carter was taken care of”. Michael Allen Smith, the accountant from Oklahoma, did not leave this world as a ‘unique’ man on paper but instead, a good one. We would all be lucky to do the same. A service will be held on September 11th at 2:30pm at College Presbyterian Church, on Hampden-Sydney’s campus. 418 College Road Hampden Sydney, Virginia 23943 In lieu of flowers, Mike asked that donations be made to the Stokeley Fulton Scholarship Fund at Hampden-Sydney College. Donations can be made online, through the Hampden-Sydney College website, including the name of the scholarship (“Stokeley Fulton Scholarship Fund”) in the section for ‘Special Instructions’. Checks can be made out to “Stokeley Fulton Scholarship Fund” and mailed to: The Office of College Advancement C.O. J Stokeley Fulton Scholarship Fund PO Box 637 Hampden-Sydney, Virginia 23943
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