Benjamin Smith

Benjamin Patrick "Ben" Smith, age 49, of Gautier, passed away on August 5, 2021.
Ben was a native of Hattiesburg, MS and a resident of Vancleave, MS.

He attended Jones County Junior College after high school, and earned an AS in culinary arts from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Atlanta, GA. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 2000 to 2005 as a Port Security Specialist in Unit 308 and served two tours in the Middle East in Bahrain and Kuwait. Ben was a police officer for the Gulfport Police Department from 1993 to 2005, where he received several accolades, including officer of the year.

Ben was a lover of all things Star Wars, especially Boba Fett! A little known fact about him is that he was very artistic, whether that be through drawing, culinary creations, or even knife-making and leather work. He was also a Master Mason through the Orange Grove Masonic Lodge.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Horace and Christine Trest Smith of Hattiesburg, MS; his maternal grandparents, James "Jack" and Elizabeth "Betty" Patrick of Mobile, AL.

Left behind to cherish Ben's memories are his parents, Derryle, Sr. and Carol Smith of Vancleave, MS; his children, Victoria Hall-Smith and Liam James Smith; his co-parent and mother of his children, Kimberly Hall-Smith; his brother, Derryle, Jr. (Jane) Smith; his nieces, Erin Elizabeth Smith and Emily Anne Smith; and his close cousin, Andy Ryals.

Ben was a family man and a good friend and when he loved, he loved hard. Anyone that knew him could tell you that one of his many accomplishments in life, his greatest was his son, Liam.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made in honor of Ben Smith to First Responders of Mississippi https://firstrespondersofms.com or mail to PO Box 22742 Madison, MS 39130

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, August 20, 2021, at the RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 13872 Lemoyne Blvd., West Jackson County, with a visitation from 9:30 AM until the funeral. Interment will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery.