WILMINGTON — Henry Winfield Smith, Jr. died at home on December 29, 2023.
He was the son of the late Judge H. Winfield Smith and Ann Powers Smith and was born in Wilmington, NC on November 4, 1940.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jayne Underwood Smith; daughter, Marci Warren and husband Roy and son Winfield Smith III.
Winfield was a proud graduate of New Hanover High School, Class of 1958, and continued meeting with classmates at Big Oak BBQ. Upon graduation from East Carolina University, he worked as a traveling auditor with AM Pullen in Charlotte. His last job before retiring was as Finance Director at New Hanover International Airport, which he described as his “Dream Job”.
“Want what you have and be grateful for it” was his philosophy until he was bitten by the car bug, which was very rare, but very real. His sports cars included a T-Bird, Triumph and a Corvette. Other modes of transportation included a horse, a surrey for the children and a motorcycle which was sold the day he had to push it home. He enjoyed mowing our fields on his beloved tractor which no one was allowed to touch, as well as owning a backhoe. On several occasions he was a gentle farmer and raised cows, pigs, soybeans and corn, the latter of which the deer claimed for their own.
Despite having had no formal training, he built a large shop, a barn and completely remodeled an old farmhouse.
He was a generous man and spent 20 years as a member of the Castle Hayne Volunteer Fire Department. Even after retiring, he was keenly interested in events related to the department. Land was donated to the Mt. Hermon Baptist Church as well as to the Wilmington Housing Authority. Plans are underway to put several hundred acres of timberland in Onslow County in a NC Conservancy.
The family will greet friends and relatives from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Andrews Market Street Chapel. The services will be at 11 a.m. followed by interment at Oakdale Cemetery.
