Wayne Sanford Smith, age 73, of Buckhannon, died Saturday, January 10, 2026, at the Holbrook Healthcare Center in Buckhannon. He was born on March 25, 1952, in Tallmansville, WV, a son of the late Burl H. and Wanda Rosalind Suder Smith. On May 26, 1979, he was united in marriage to Cheryl Young Smith who survives. Also surviving are one son Daniel Smith of Clarksburg; three daughters: Carissa (Shannon) Huff of Bridgeport, Emily (Jeremy) Johnson of Weston, and Rachel (Justin) Ware of Mt. Clare; eleven grandchildren: Abagail (C.B.) Baughman, Amelia Johnson, Paul Ware, Riley Huff, Devon Johnson, Joseph Ware, Rachelle Johnson, Christian Ware, Leah Smith, Peter Ware, and Sarah Ware; great granddaughters: Alanae Cutright and Eloise Baughman (on the way); one sister Susan (Frank) Shreve of Buckhannon; four brothers: David (Vera Jean) Hull of South Carolina, and Burl Junior (Janet) Smith, Rod (Vanessa) Smith, and Tim Smith, all of Buckhannon; great aunt Juanita Morgan; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by one brother John Arthur Hull and one sister Kathryn Canterbury.
Wayne was retired after 32 years of service as a lineman with MonPower. He had been ordained as a Baptist minister with the Broad Run Conference and attended the Way of Holiness where he was a Deacon. He was a talented and renowned gunsmith and avid hunter.
The family will receive friends at the Heavner & Cutright Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM, at which time the funeral will begin with Pastor Jerry Murrell officiating. Interment will follow in the Mt. Olive Cemetery at Hemlock.
