M. Wayne Smith

M. Wayne Smith was born on May 19, 1941, in Mt. Pleasant, TN to the late Sam Hughes Smith and Louise Holt Smith. After a brief illness, Wayne departed this life on August 22, 2025, in Panama City, Florida where he spent his retirement years.

Although Wayne was born into a farming family, he had other aspirations. His high school classmates voted for him as Most Likely to Succeed (although Wittiest would have also described him well), and he was determined to create his own path. He graduated from Tennessee Tech University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree. He was a proud alumnus and took great pride in his accounting career. Wayne was a Certified Public Accountant for many years. He served honorably in the United States Army and Army Reserves as an Accounting Specialist. He enjoyed crunching numbers and continued to work on his own tax returns, as well as those of family members, until his passing.

Wayne also set his sights on living outside of Tennessee and spent many years in California. He loved hosting friends and family members and being their resident expert and tour guide! He enjoyed sending exciting postcards back home telling of all his adventures.

He eventually moved back to Tennessee and continued his career as a partner at the Totherow, Haile & Welch accounting firm in McMinnville where he worked until retirement. After retiring, Wayne again found himself seeking warmer weather and a coastline. He settled in Panama City, Florida and lived happily there with his life partner and companion of thirty-eight years, Randy Tillman.

Wayne adored dogs. He once adopted a Labrador retriever, Molly, who wandered into his yard. They were true companions, and he provided the best life for her! Most recently, he spent a lot of time spoiling his dog, Jazz! He spent many hours on the phone each week speaking to his high school classmates. He enjoyed keeping up with them and didn’t miss a high school reunion. He loved sports. Family and friends knew not to call while the Tennessee Vols were playing! He made several trips to SEC basketball tournaments where he befriended others while discussing their bracket selections!

He was known fondly as Uncle Wayne to his many nieces and nephews and was certainly up to that task. Young-at-heart—he was always the fun uncle, but he still held their respect. He was easy to talk to, gave solid and honest advice, and was an inspiration in many ways. Wayne was baptized in Bigby Creek while attending Cross Bridges Baptist Church alongside his family.

In addition to his parents, Wayne was preceded in death by his siblings: Dorothy Hines, Catherine McBride, Bill Smith, J.L. Smith, Carolyn Sisk, Martha Jackson, Shirley Smith and nephew Jeff Sisk. He is survived by his life partner Randy Tillman and nephews and nieces: Tony Smith, Mark Hines, Tim Smith, Debbie Sisk Vincent, Scott Jackson, Amy Smith Hinson, and Brian Jackson, and several great and great-great nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Wayne’s life will be held on Thursday, August 28 ,2025 at 1:00 pm at Williams Funeral home in Columbia, Tennessee. The family will receive friends from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm to the start of the service. Rev. Maurice Hollingsworth and Charles Sanders will speak. Music provided by Charlene and Wilson Henderson.  Burial will follow at Polk Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers will be nephews, Tony Smith, Mark Hines, Tim Smith, Scott Jackson, Brian Jackson, and Zach Sisk.

Honorary Pallbearers will be his classmates from the Haylong High School Class of 1959.

American Legion Post 19 will be rendering military honors.