of Clarksville, AR

September 29, 1933 - March 9, 2025

Henry Benford Smith, age 91, of Clarksville, Arkansas passed from this earthly life on Sunday, March 9th, 2025 at Legacy Heights Nursing and Rehab in Russellville, Arkansas. He was born in Big Flat, Arkansas on September 29th, 1933 the youngest of 14 children born to John Henry and Fannie Jane Sutterfield Smith.

Benford graduated from Big Flat High School in 1952. Shortly after his graduation, he was drafted into the military. As a result of the time he spent serving his country, he became a proud veteran of the U.S. Army along with seven older brothers that too were Army veterans. Upon his departure from the Army, he met and married Edith Maxine Daugherty on March 15, 1958. After he married, with the encouragement of his new wife, Benford decided to attend college as an opportunity provided him by the GI Bill. In 1962, he graduated from Arkansas State Teacher's College (now University of Central Arkansas) in Conway, Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science in Education Degree. He later attended graduate school at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas, where he was a member of Phi Delta Kappa. The time Benford spent working on his education degree afforded him the opportunity to make a lasting impact on hundreds of young people that he would cross paths with in his future. In the Fall of 1962, he started his teaching career with the Big Flat School District (which later became Tri-County School District). He spent the next 32 years helping to mold and shape his students' minds to become productive citizens to their communities. He spent countless hours teaching ''shop'' and ''woodworking'' to students. Some may even still have their projects like his own children do. Another part of his day was spent teaching the subject he had a passion for……American History. All the students in school affectionally called him ''Mr. B'' and he was proud of every student that crossed his path. As unforgiving and unrelentless as dementia is on a person's ''here and now'', it could never erase one of his proudest memories. Until his last days, he was still immensely proud (and told everybody that listened) of the year that he was selected by the students as ''Best Liked and Most Strict Teacher'' all in the same year for the yearbook. He always said that this was because he followed the ''firm but fair'' method of teaching. In addition to teaching, Benford and Maxine had a farm with cattle and for 32 years grew broilers for both Con-Agra and Pilgrim's Pride. He also served as Mayor for the City of Big Flat, was on the Board of Directors of Ozark Opportunities, a member of the American Legion, a member of the Rising Sun Lodge in Big Flat, a Perpetual member of the Lindsey Lodge in Leslie, Arkansas and was a 32nd degree Mason.

Preceding Benford in death were his parents, John Henry and Fannie Jane Sutterfield Smith; brothers, Johnny, Rufus, Arlis, Arvil, Luster, Roy, Clarence, Joseph G. and Hanford; sisters, Easter Wallace, Barbara Busby, Ruby Wilkins and Ruth Dye and one infant daughter, Karen Smith.

Survivors to cherish his memories are his wife, Maxine Daugherty Smith of Clarksville; children, Laura Jayne Green (Rick) of Calico Rock and Gregory Lynn Smith (Pam) of Greers Ferry; grandchildren, Courtney Wilkins (Billy Joe) of Lamar, Kyle Green (Kaci) of Clarksville, Cody Green (Lindsay) of Prairie Grove, Corey Green (Ashley) of Dacula, Georgia, Mitchell Smith of Conway and Matthew Smith of El Paso, Texas and 10 great-grandchildren, Josie, Abby, Mayci and Jaylea Wilkins, Kinley, Karsyn and Kam Green, Ty and Maybree Green and Sophia Smith.

Graveside services for Benford will be 2:00 PM Tuesday, March 11th, 2025 at Big Flat Cemetery in Big Flat, Arkansas. Grandchildren will serve as bearers and great-grandchildren will serve as honorary bearers.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Coffman Funeral Home
923 Highway 65 North
Marshall, AR  72650
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com