Willie D. (Daniel) Smith was born to Walter Herbert and Corleaner (Coleman) Smith, on September 10, 1930 in Winston County, Mississippi. He was the second of nine children.

In 1950, Willie D. was drafted into the Korean War, serving overseas in Babenhausen, Germany. He returned to Mississippi where he joined in matrimony to Wilma Renee Coleman June 17, 1952, celebrating 67 years of marriage in 2019. They began farming 80 acres in Winston County, Mississippi. They had twin sons on January 26, 1955, Willie Troy and Willie Roy (stillborn) daughter Brenda was born November 1956, Willie and Wilma adopted their granddaughter Troyia after Troy’s death. They moved to Omaha, Ne in 1959.

“Smitty” departed this life on Sunday June 9, 2019, at the Douglas County Health Center, where he had been living in the memory care unit since February 2017.

Willie was preceded in death by wife Wilma, sons Troy and Roy; parents, three brothers; Calden Sr. David R. Sr. and Richard L Smith; two sisters; Bonnie Kate and Flonnie Ree (infancy) Smith.

Willie leaves to mourn in his passing his daughters Brenda J. Smith and Troyia (Brian) Anderson; 5 grandchildren; Tracey (Frank) Foster, Brandon (Shanon) Smith, Shane (Amber) Wallace and Dayna (Anthony Parrott) Gunter, 16 great- grandchildren, three sisters; Betty R. Dunlap, Bobbie J, Payne, and Berlean Robinson, all of Omaha; special nieces Stephanie Black and Cynthea Coleman, a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.