Milton Abner Smith, Jr. passed away peacefully at home on May 29th, 2026, with his beloved wife, Judith Ann Barry Smith, by his side.

Milton was born in Clinton, North Carolina, to Milton Abner Smith, Sr. and Myrtle Madeline Eubank Smith. He was the second of three children and his two sisters, Martha Ann Smith Hobbs and Patsy Jo Smith Kennedy, adored him. Patsy Jo maintained until the end of her life that he was "the handsomest man in Sampson and Duplin County". He spent much of his childhood living in Swan Quarter, North Carolina, and reflected often on those days being among his happiest. During World War II, a young Milton spent many nights in a watchtower looking for enemy aircraft, and many days diving for oysters. He attended Warsaw High School in Duplin County, NC where he was quarterback of the football team, ultimately graduating from Hargrave Military Academy.

Milton had a deep love of history and desire to serve, leading him to join the North Carolina Army National Guard in 1949 at only sixteen years old. As part of the 30th Infantry Division, Milton responded to Eastern, NC communities that had been devastated by Hurricane Hazel. In 1954, Milton joined the United Stated Air Force, serving for nine and a half years at various bases in England, Germany, and the United States, achieving the rank of Airman First Class.

After being honorably discharged, he worked as a Concierge and Front Desk Agent in several prominent Washington, D.C. hotels, where he met his wife, Judy; the great love of his life. Milton and Judy married in 1974 in the Dirkson Senate Office Building, and they spent many happy days together wandering Georgetown and Capitol Hill before settling first in Montgomery Village, Maryland, and finally in Greenville, South Carolina.

Milton was both a writer and painter. He produced many beautiful works of art (a talent inherited from his parents) and authored several books. He loved history, politics, and genealogy, and was a consummate storyteller with an incredible memory. He loved lighthouses, particularly Cape Hatteras, and was fascinated by airplanes, looking up every time one flew overhead. He was also a carpenter, and never without a project he was working on. In 2017, Milton was joyfully welcomed into full communion with the Catholic Church and enjoyed attending mass at St. Anthony of Padua. He loved holidays, especially Christmas, because he loved any reason for family to gather. Above all, Milton cherished his family, particularly his children and grandchildren who brought him so much joy.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Milton Sr. and Madeline Smith; his sisters, Martha Ann Hobbs and Patsy Jo Kennedy; and his precious grandson, Milton Abner Smith, IV. He is survived by his children; Laura Fletcher Barry (Shawn), Milton Abner Smith, III (Regina), Sarah Frances Smith Welliver (Chris), and Matthew Bryan Barry Smith; numerous grandchildren, Valerie J. Matthew Smith Conversano, Dylan Thomas Smith Welliver, Molly Theresa Welliver, Liam Abner Welliver, Zachary McIver Smith (Leslie), Jacob Milton Smith (Lauren), Lilliann Marie Hanson (Kennith), Erin Michele Linck, and Kelly Lynn Linck; great-grandchildren, Gibson, Gaines, Givens, Eleanor, Tristan, Miriam, Braeden, Emma, Aislynn, Logan, Tatym, Rylie, Trinity, Jackson, Blake, Alyssa, Tanner, and Carter; and a great-great grandchild, Atlas. Milton also had a devoted bonus son, Jimmy Conversano (Coley); and bonus grandchildren Luke Conversano, Reilly Conversano, and Will Piepho, all of whom he deeply loved as his own.

Additionally, Milton is survived by several nieces and nephews, Laura Lutz (John), Ann Cover (Robert), Alden Hobbs, Jr. (Karen), Jeffrey Kirk Pope (Joy), and Timothy Pope (Vicki); grandnieces and grandnephews, Madeline Pope (Trey), Samantha Faison (Wyman), Jeffrey Pope (Jess), Abbie Jo Pope, Alden Hobbs III (Katie), Rachel Hobbs, Jay Lutz, Caroline Brakebill (Brian), and Mackenzie (Tej) Singh; and great-great nieces and nephews, Cameron, Chandler, Cason, Lainey, Emerson, Parker, and Mollie Mae.

Milton and his gentle, loving heart will be greatly missed by all who knew him, and the entire family is so thankful to all who have reached out with messages, prayers, and condolences. As many know, Milton was the parent of a son with special needs and felt strongly that every child deserves access to the medical care they need, regardless of their ability to pay. For this reason, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made in his name to the Shriners Children's Hospital in Greenville, South Carolina.

A service will be held at a later date at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Greenville, South Carolina.

Friends are encouraged to share their favorite memories of Milton with the family by clicking on either the "Share a Memory" footer or the word "Tributes" in the dropdown menu.

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