Kinston – Vance “Harry” Smith, 70, passed away Friday, December 17, 2021. “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” Vance Eugene “Harry” Smith, 70, of Kinston, went to be his Lord and Savior on Friday, December 17th at The Service League of Greenville Inpatient Hospice, surrounded by his wife, daughters, and family. 

Visitation will be held on Monday, December 20th from 6:00-8:00pm, at Edwards Funeral Home. The funeral will be held Tuesday, December 21st at 11:00am in the chapel at Edwards Funeral Home with graveside to follow at Pinelawn Memorial Park in Kinston. Reverends Casey Perry and Darren Smith will officiate the service. Flowers are welcome or memorials can be made to Lanie’s Chapel Christian Church, 5333 Hwy 58 North, Kinston, NC 28501. 

Harry was born on May 31st, 1951 to the late Eleanor Taylor Smith and Vance Smith. He grew up in the Pleasant Hill community and graduated from South Lenoir High School in 1971. While at South Lenoir, he was a proud member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA). After graduation, he enrolled at Lenoir Community College in the Agriculture program where he met his best friend of 50 years, Albert Bell. Harry was also a graduate of the North Carolina State University Modern Farming Program.

Harry was an avid farmer. In 1982 and 1983, he served as the President of the Young Farmers of Lenoir County. In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s he was a member of many local organizations such as the Lenoir County Livestock Association and a member of Farm Credit Services. One of his most proud moments was being a member of the Lenoir County Corn Growers Association and his record yield of 188.83 bushels per acre of dry corn in 1983. He also participated in numerous test plots of corn and soybeans with his good friend Gene Carden of Delta & Pine Land Company. 

Harry met the love of his life, Sue Turner, on a blind date in November of 1981. They were engaged on Valentine’s Day of 1983 and married on October 8th, 1983 in Potters Hill, NC. 

Harry was the owner of Community Mill for several years and he would custom mix feed for his customers. After the mill closed, he worked with Cox Family Farms and JC Howard Farms.  He began working for the North Carolina Global Transpark in 1999 and helped to open the NC GTP Education & Training Center. He worked there until 2007 when he transitioned to the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services in the Feed Mill division and later to the Caswell Research Farm. He worked at the Caswell and Cunningham Research Farms until his retirement in 2016. He enjoyed working with numerous researchers and students from NC State University and continuing his love of farming and agriculture. 

After retirement, he had to stay busy, and he went to work for TC Smith Produce, delivering produce around eastern North Carolina. He made many friends at the stores and businesses along his routes. One of his favorite stops was Ivanhoe Blueberry Farms. 

Harry was a life-long and devoted member of Lanie’s Chapel Christian Church. He attended Lanie’s Chapel for 57 years. He served many positions at Lanie’s Chapel through the years such as elder, deacon, board chair, and trustee. He loved his church family and serving the Lord.

Harry is survived by his wife of 38 years, Sue Turner Smith. He also has two wonderful daughters, of whom he was immensely proud, and loved to brag on and talk about their accomplishments to anyone, and anytime he had the chance - Suzanna Adele Smith Moye, and her husband Josh, and Sarah Catherine Smith Dixon, and her husband Caleb. He also has two beautiful granddaughters that had him wrapped around their fingers, Harper Leigh and Laura Jane Moye, and three granddogs, Tuff, Rosie, and Roman. He is also survived by his Uncle Bobby Hunter of Kinston, and several special cousins, Sheila Hunter-White, and husband Tom of Winterville; Betty Carol Tyndall and husband Lester of Deep Run; Harvey Tyndall of Deep Run; and Stanley Taylor Jr. “Skippy,” of Kinston. He is also survived by many wonderful brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, family, and friends of which he had many fond memories throughout the years. 

One thing about Harry Smith was that he never met a stranger and could pretty much find someone he knew wherever he went. He truly had a servant’s heart and would do anything he could to help others.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff at The Service League of Greenville Inpatient Hospice for their care and compassion during his final days.

Arrangements by Edwards Funeral Home & Cremations.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.edwardsfhc.com.