William “Billy” Denny Smith of Clayton, NC departed for his heavenly home on Monday, August 26, 2024, at the age of 77. Billy, affectionately known as Papa in his later years, was born to Alfred Rovander Smith and Gurthia Pridgen Smith in Robeson County, NC on October 20, 1946. He grew up in Elizabethtown, NC and attended Elizabethtown High School, class of ‘66, where he met and married his high school sweetheart, Laurel Lynn Corbett in 1965. Billy attended The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy in 1974.
Billy enjoyed his career in pharmacy, working in his family-owned drug stores, including Smith Drugs and The Medicine Shoppe, where he cared for the people of Elizabethtown and surrounding areas. During the second half of his career, he worked as a hospital pharmacy director, where he was passionate about advancing clinical pharmacy.
Our Papa loved his family and will be remembered for his joyous laugh, ability to make us feel like the most important people in the world, and for being fully present in our lives, even during the years when he lived hours away – graduations, dance recitals, voice recitals, theatrical performances, soccer games, basketball games, birthday parties- he was always present. His life truly reflected his love of Jesus through his love for us and his service to others.
Billy was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother and son. He is preceded in death by his wife, parents, and his brother Alfred Gene Smith. He is survived by his daughter, Sarah Norris and husband Bobby Norris of Selma; son, Alfred R. Smith II and wife Dr. Angela Smith of Chapel Hill; grandchildren, Dr. Andrew Norris and Katie Norris, Matthew Norris, Dr. Jessica Norris, Victoria Smith, Alexandra Smith, Sterling Smith; and great grandchildren, Hallie Kate, Corbett, Rylan, and Wells Norris.
A celebration of life will be held on September 13th, at Horne United Methodist Church in Clayton, NC. A visitation with family will begin at 1pm, and the Memorial Service will start at 2 p.m. The family will leave immediately following the service, for a 5:30 p.m. inurnment ceremony at Trinity Methodist Church in Elizabethtown, NC. Friends and family are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in support of the Rural NC Pharmacy Health Fund to the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Foundation, 194 Finley Golf Course Road, Suite 106, Chapel Hill, NC 27517 or directly through the following link: go.unc.edu/wsmith.
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