Vernal T. Smith

Vernal Thomas Smith wants you to know that he is walking along the country roads of Switchback, West Virginia. Enjoying a “real” Faygo Red pop in a long-neck, glass bottle, and eating Reese’s cups in rapid succession; one after the other. Vernal or “Tree Trunk” as he was affectionately called, received an offer he could not refuse; and after 80 years of living in this earthly world, on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 he transitioned to the most perfect Eternal Life and Heavenly Home. Vernal was educated in the public schools of West Virginia; graduating from Elkhorn High School. Too poor to attend college; a job doing anything was his only option; so with employment in mind, he moved to Baltimore and began working as a stock clerk for Pantry Pride Supermarket. He loved the work, the people, and the uniform; a blue and white Pantry Pride apron that he wore proudly. Day or night, Vernal could be seen riding his bike to work, dressed in freshly pressed khaki pants, a heavily-starched white shirt, black tie, and black patent leather shoes. A work related injury forced him into a retirement that jumped started his true love and legacy… Grandfather. He loved his children, and especially his grandchildren. He never wasted an opportunity to share his values with them: Right or wrong, family sticks together; you always circle the wagons so that no one is left behind or left out; always do the right thing and you will never lose sleep. One of the last things Vernal shared with his kids was, “I sure did love raising you kids; it was a lot of fun.” Vernal was preceded in death by his parents, Grover N. Smith and Rosa Lee Hairston; one brother, Luther H. Smith; three sisters, Ora Mae, Brenda, and Baby Mae; and two children, Anthony and Angela Purvis. Many are left to mourn Vernal’s passing: his children: two sons, Vernon T. Smith and Nathaniel L. Smith; four daughters, Verna M. Smith, Evelyn L. Smith (Dawson), Kimberly N. Smith, Amonda D. Hurt and their mother, Mary E. Hurt; his grandchildren, Johnathan Smith, Donovan and D’Anna Dawson, Jaelah Hurt and Nyah Smith; his paternal family: his brother, Grover N. Smith of Colorado and sisters, Barbara Lee Dotson of South Carolina and Dorothy Tidwell of Ohio; and a host of many other relatives, friends and neighbors.

Tributes

Vernal T. Smith

May 29, 1936 - March 1, 2017