Thomas Greene Smith

Thomas Greene “Tommy” Smith, a well-known and respected businessman in Oxford, MS, died Friday, June 5, 2026, after a brave, two-year fight with an aggressive form of cancer.

Visitation will be Wednesday, June 10, from 12:00-2:00 p.m in the Fellowship Hall of First Presbyterian Church in Oxford. The memorial service will immediately follow at 2:00 p.m. in the Church Sanctuary with the Reverend Ann Kelly officiating. Waller Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Tommy was born February 4, 1947, to parents James Evans Smith and Annie Mae Greene Smith of Oxford. He was the second of their four sons, and he was never a stranger to the ethic of hard work. His daily chores as a child led to spending his summer breaks from school building houses with his father (who built more than 200 homes in and around Oxford). His father also founded Smith Building Supply in 1960 to serve the construction materials needs of a fast-growing Oxford and Lafayette County, a calling and tradition still carried on by his sons and grandsons.

Tommy enjoyed his time at University High School prior to graduating from Oxford High School in 1965, remaining connected and enjoying UHS reunions through the years. He was Drum Major at UHS, and also played clarinet in the band under direction of Mr. Robert Work. He served as assistant band director in Mr. Work’s absence, which was a high honor. Tommy then attended The University of Mississippi, earning a BBA in Accounting in 1969.

From 1965-1969, Tommy was the drummer for stage and dance bands playing at Oxford and Ole Miss fraternity venues. The bands’ members changed over time, as did the group’s names: “The Sinners,” “Stormy Monday,” and “Missing Linx.” Tommy enjoyed playing those “gigs” with good friends including “Skillet” Smith, Jim Seay, Mike Bumgardner, Mike Strachn, and others. As a young adult, he also drove a school bus for the Oxford School System.

A veteran, he joined the Army during the Vietnam War and served in Okinawa as Paymaster. He was selected to join the Finance Corps due to his proficiency in typing, which he credited to his teacher, the legendary Mrs. Maxie Lee Work. (Mrs. Work was well-known for her

proficiency with a ruler, with which she would smack the wrists of students whose hands were not properly levitating above the typewriter keys.)

After his service to our country, he returned to Oxford as a partner-owner at Smith Building Supply with his brothers Mike and Alan. He joined the Board of Directors of FNB Oxford (formerly First National Bank) in 1996, and remained active through its present growth and success. He was also a Founding Member of the Oxford-Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation, retiring in 2017 after 30-plus years of service to his home community.

Tommy was a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church of Oxford, where he was installed as an Elder in 2004. He also served on several church committees during a period of church growth and facility expansion. His Christian faith sustained him throughout his life, including military service and the loss of his first wife, Melanie, to cancer in 1991. He and his daughters navigated that family tragedy, and grew even closer through it.

When he was diagnosed with an aggressive Sarcoma in 2024, and then Myeloma and Lymphoma in 2026, he and his wife Lu Ann approached that hard fight with the pragmatic view that they would avail themselves of the knowledge given to medical experts by God, trusting His will, whatever the outcome. Together, they made 15 round-trips by road to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, for surgeries and treatments. There were also many, many trips to hospitals in Memphis and Oxford for emergency care. Leaning into their faith together, with the prayers and support of family and friends, fear was never allowed along for the ride.

Before his illness, Tommy and Lu enjoyed traveling to South Padre Island to their condo on the beach, and to watch thoroughbred horse racing at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, AR. He also enjoyed bass fishing at Sardis Lake. A master yardsmith, he took pride in making sure his lawn was always perfectly manicured in a criss-cross pattern that rivaled any major league baseball field. (It was rumored that he could be found on his John Deere mower before the grass even needed another cut…just to make sure no errant blade was sticking up above the rest!) He also enjoyed quiet time on his patio, watching the birds that he provided food and nest boxes for.

Tommy is survived by his wife of 33 years Lu Ann Smith of Oxford; daughters Jennifer Smith of Alexandria, VA, Karen Doss and her husband Jake of Memphis, TN, and Jessica Simpson and her husband Matt of North Augusta, SC; grandchildren Annemarie Doss, Tate Simpson, Drew Simpson, and LeeLee Simpson; brothers James Evans “Jimmy” Smith, Jr. of Jackson, TN, Michael Dean “Mike” Smith (late wife, Paula) of Oxford, and Lynn “Alan” Smith and his wife Melinda of Oxford; and a host of cousins, nephews, and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents James Evans Smith and Annie Mae Greene Smith of Oxford, and his first wife Melanie Smith of Oxford.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions in Tommy’s memory be made to French Camp Academy, which he has faithfully supported for more than 50 years, at One Fine Place, French Camp MS 39745 or online at www.frenchcamp.org.