Dr. Farris Winfred Smith, known affectionately by his family and friends as Buddy, passed away in his home, surrounded by loved ones, early on the morning of July 21, 2024. Farris was 84 years old at the time of his passing, and in a few weeks, on August 14, he would have celebrated his 59th wedding anniversary with his wife, Gaye Alford Smith.

Buddy, a childhood nickname that stuck with him until the end of his life, was born on May 16, 1940, to Lonnie Farris Smith and Rebecca Naomi Smith, in Griffin, Georgia. He graduated from Griffin High School, received an A.A. degree from Norman Junior College, a B.A. degree from Mississippi College, and Master of Theology and Doctor of Ministry degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Dr. Smith served as a pastor in the Southern Baptist Church Association for 24 years, and he served as Director of Missions for the Simpson County Baptist Association for 15 years. He was ordained at Oak Hill Baptist Church in his hometown of Griffin, Georgia, in 1969. Over the next five decades, Farris pastored churches in Mississippi in Poplarville, Tylertown, Hazlehurst, Yazoo City, Magnolia, and Picayune, as well as Lizella, Georgia. He also provided various interim pastor roles for churches across South Mississippi. Farris served numerous additional positions over the course of his career, including consultant to the State Brotherhood Department of the Mississippi Baptist Convention, President of the Magnolia Ministerial Association, and volunteer chaplain for Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center.

Farris was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He was blessed with a quick sense of humor, and he lived his life with a love for his wife, a love for Christ, a love for the Atlanta Braves, and a compassion for those he ministered to and for the churches he served over the many years of his ministry.

Farris is survived by Gaye, his wife of 58 years; their three children, Michael Farris Smith and wife Sabrea, Mandy Smith Winscott and husband John, and Macy Smith Cross and husband Shane; and eleven grandchildren, Bailey, Brady, Presley, Avery, Parker, Blair, Carter, Brooklyn, Daniel, Elise, and Brayden; a sister, Angie Giddens, of Griffin, Georgia; and a host of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by sisters Elsie Davis, Minnie Collier, and Evelyn Crowe.

Memorial services will be held on Tuesday, July 23, at First Baptist Church of Clinton in Clinton, Mississippi. Visitation will be held from 9:00-11:00 a.m., with service to begin at 11:00 a.m. A graveside service will be held at Enon Cemetery in Enon, Mississippi, at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to the GO FUND of First Baptist Church of Clinton, which supports mission projects throughout the year. A donation can be made at: fbcclinton.org/go-fund.