William Hays Smith, 70, of Moorhead, passed away Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, at Bolivar Medical Center in Cleveland.
Hays was born August 2, 1950, in Indianola, to Walter Hays Smith and Mary Elizabeth Hightower Smith. He was a graduate of Ruleville High School and attended Delta State University. Hays served in the Mississippi Army National Guard. He was the owner of Moorhead Motors in Moorhead. Hays was a member of the Inverness Lions Club and a member of Moorhead Baptist Church. He loved his church and church family. Hays was a generous man. If he ever found out that someone had a need, he was always one of the first to lend a helping hand. He was also an honorable man; his word was his bond. He loved food, but not fast food. No matter where he was, he was always going to sit down and eat a country peas and cornbread type of meal. Hays loved the art of the deal, always trying to deal on anything whether it be cars, clothes, groceries, or anything on sale. He was so much of a salesman at heart that he worked a deal with a salesclerk at Dillard’s, they traded cell phone numbers and she would notify him by phone of any upcoming sales so that he would not miss them. He loved tipping people that helped him. If he went to eat, he would tip the hostess, the cook, and the waitress. While receiving chemo, he would take boxes of nabs and Hershey bars to the nurse’s stations on every floor of the hospital and to all the workers at his bank. Hays was a true sweetheart to everyone he met, that it was only fitting that his funeral be held on Valentine’s day.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Hays Smith and Mary Elizabeth Smith.
Hays is survived by his favorite ex-wife and caregiver until the end, Barbara Acey Smith of Holcomb; children, Mary Elizabeth “Beth” Smith Bell (Sammie) of Charleston, William Hays Smith Jr. of Moorhead and Shannon Acey (Missy) of Holcomb; twin sisters, Annette Smith Chittom (Park) and Jeanette Smith Lee all of Selma, Ala.; and seven grandchildren, Mary Hays Bell, Rossie Bell, Clayton Michael Smith, Hayden Elise Smith, Gabe Acey, Madysen Acey and Braxton Acey.
The family received friends Sunday, Feb. 14 from 1 p.m. until the 2 p.m. funeral service at Moorhead Baptist Church in Moorhead with the Rev. Glenn Donald and Allen Snowden officiating. Burial followed in Moorhead Cemetery.
Burton Funeral Home of Indianola was entrusted with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Paralyzed Veterans of America, 209 Little John Dr. Baton Rouge, LA 70815 or Moorhead Baptist Church, PO Box 550, Moorhead, MS 38761.
