Dr. William Cecil "W.C." Smith

William Cecil Smith, M.D, 93, died November 6, 2013, in Carthage, TX. Services will be held 2:00 p.m. Sunday, November 10, 2013, at Central Baptist Church of Carthage, Texas, with Dr. Charles Dodson, Dr. W. C. “Bill” Everett and Rev. Steve Jackson officiating. Burial will follow in Odd Fellows Cemetery under the direction of Hawthorn Funeral Home. Visitation will be Saturday evening from 6-8:00 p.m. at Hawthorn Funeral Home. Dr. Smith was born in Anna, Texas, on March 7, 1920. He was one of three boys born to the marriage of Sydney J. and Jimmie Lee Lowery Smith. William attended Anna schools graduating as valedictorian. He met his future bride, Margaret Eugenia Gill, while attending Baylor University. They married on August 7, 1943, at Central Baptist Church in Carthage, Texas. After earning a BA in Science from Baylor University in 1941 and his M. D. from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in June of 1944, he served as a Captain in the U. S. Army processing military personnel returning from active duty in World War II. In 1948 Dr. Smith and his family moved to Carthage where he began his practice in General Medicine, later becoming board certified as a Family Practice Physician. He served as a deacon at Central Baptist Church, a member of Rotary Club International, the Panola County Fresh Water District Board, and many other professional and community organizations. Dr. Smith was honored in many ways because of his dedication to his profession and his community. Because of local support through letters of testimony from his patients, he was named Physician of the Year in 1995 by the Texas Academy of Family Physicians. Another special event was the naming of the Panola College Health Science Building in his honor, since he was instrumental in establishing the nursing program. He was awarded the Silver Beaver by the Boy Scouts of America. Dr. Smith is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Jack A. Smith and Robert L. Smith; his wife of 67 years Eugenia; and his son-in-law, Robert A. Reid. Dr. Smith is survived by his four children: Carolyn Reid of Carthage, Robby Smith and wife Joy of Carthage, Jamey Smith and wife Carol of Kingwood, TX., and Elizabeth Yarborough and husband Guy of Nacogdoches. His eight grandchildren include Shannon Smith and wife Michelle of Tyler; Charles Reid and wife Julie of Berrien Springs, Michigan; Randy Reid and wife Julie of The Woodlands; Brandon Smith and wife Brandy of Keller; Matt Smith and wife Stephanie of Rowlett; Mike Smith of Houston; Mary Yarborough Armstrong and husband Patrick of Conroe; and Shelley Yarborough Alley and husband Adam of Nacogdoches. He is also survived by seventeen great grandchildren. Pallbearers will be his grandsons and grandsons-in-law. Honorary pallbearers are Sam Raley, Dennis Smith, Ray Schieffer, John Crisp, and Keith Keeling. Memorial gifts would be appreciated for the W. C. and Eugenia Smith Endowment Fund at Panola College, Central Baptist Church, or a charity of your choice. The family wishes to thank Texas Home Health, Heartsway Hospice, Hospice of East Texas, and Marian Place for the care and support they provided. A special thanks goes to Sherry Woods.

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Dr. William Cecil "W.C." Smith

March 7, 1920 - November 6, 2013