Henry Smith

Mr. Henry Smith Jr., born in the vibrant city of Memphis, TN on November 7th, 1934, to the union of Henry Smith Sr and Mildred Smith.

He was a man of humble beginnings, strong character, and an enduring love for the great outdoors. Henry was a ground keeper for the Elbel golf course before his retirement in 2013, he was known for his meticulous attention to detail and his dedication to maintaining the beauty of the green spaces he cherished. His life echoed the words of John Muir, "In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks," as he spent his days not only working, but also marveling at the beauty of his beloved golf course. Henry resided in South Bend, Indiana for the last three years of his life, creating a warm and inviting home with his beloved wife, Barbara Smith, whom he shared his life with for 56 years and been married since December 2013.

Together, they created a household filled with laughter, love, and the comforting aroma of home-cooked meals. Henry love for his family and friends was as vast and deep as the oceans themselves. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Smith. His sons, Vincent (Rossano) McDonald, and Duane (Diane) McDonald of South Bend, Indiana. Daughters, Denise Guyton, Pamela Smith and Patricia Taylor, all of Illinois and Connie Garth of Alabama. Grandsons, Marquise L. Smith of Illinois and Vincent D. McDonald of North Carolina. Grand-daughters, Angel McDonald of Texas and Dylisha McDonald, Stephanie McDonald and Chanterie McDonald, all of South Bend, IN. He also leaves behind his special nieces, Zena (Maurice) Dawson of Texas and Melissa Titus of Illinois and nephew, Tommie Dent. Along with a host of nieces, nephews and great-grandchildren. Henry was preceded in death by his father, Henry Smith Sr, and his mother, Mildred Smith. One grandson, Ronald Jr, and two granddaughters, Britney and Tiffany McDonald. His legacy lives on in the hearts of his surviving family and friends, who will forever remember him as a loving husband, father, uncle, and friend. In his memory, we invite those who knew Henry to share their memories and upload photos to his memorial page. Let's keep the spirit of this extraordinary man alive by sharing the moments that made him so special to each of us. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Henry Smith, please visit our floral store.