08/12/2025
Our loss is great. ❤️
Louie Jay Smith, 59, of Hernando, Mississippi passed away on August 10, 2025 at Baptist Hospital DeSoto in Southaven, Mississippi. He was born in Henderson, Kentucky, graduated from Hernando High School and earned his Bachelor’s degree from Ole Miss.
He started his pharmacy career at Walgreens in 1990. After several moves, he opened up his dream: his own pharmacy. Louie’s Family Pharmacy opened its doors in July of 2017 where Louie was proud to serve the community of Hernando and his loyal customers, some of which had followed him store to store throughout his career. His pharmacy was successful from day one because of him and the way he loved and cared for his customers, “the Louie way”.
He married the love of his life, Leigh Ann, in April of 1990. They shared an incredible love and life for 35 amazing years. Louie and Leigh raised two daughters, Isabella and Emilia. He was their biggest supporter and was involved in every aspect of their lives. He loved his family with every ounce of his being and they knew it and loved him the same.
Without the official title of teacher, he was one. Louie served as a preceptor for Ole Miss School of Pharmacy and Union University School of Pharmacy. He loved pharmacy and he loved teaching his students about pharmacy. He loved being a coach, whether that was on the ballfield or behind a chess board. He coached his girls’ teams in Hernando for many years. He was so proud of his 2015 World Series Champions, Hernando’s first 14U softball team to win it all. He served as Lewisburg Schools’ chess coach for over 10 years. Coach Louie took his teaching role seriously as he taught his chess students special moves and tactics to ensure a win.
Louie was the world’s biggest Ole Miss fan. He loved all sports but especially football. He was in his seat on the 50-yard line every gameday. He took his role as a fan seriously and would be at the game early, rain or shine, to hear the national anthem and the Are You Ready cheer. To sit next to Louie at an Ole Miss football game meant you never sat down and you had to cheer every play. He loved sharing the Ole Miss experience with new fans and friends by taking them to Oxford with him.
You never saw him without a toothpick, a sweet tea in his hand, and a smile on his face. His favorite time of year wasn’t only football season, but hunting season. He was always preparing for his next big hunt, hoping to kill the big one and supply his family with the meat. Recently, he discovered his love for a crossbow and passed that along to other family members as they also shared his passion.
Visitation will be from 12 pm until A Celebration of Life Funeral Service at 2 pm on Saturday - August 16, 2025 at Highway Holiness Church - 800 Getwell Rd. - Nesbit, Mississippi. Interment will follow at Bakers Chapel Cemetery.
He is survived by his loving wife of 35 years, Leigh Ann, his two amazingly wonderful daughters, Isabella Smith and Emilia Smith and her fiance, Trent all of Hernando, Mississippi, his mother, Linda Phillips and her husband, Billy of Hernando, Mississippi and his father, Jay Smith and his wife Wanda of Bald K**b, Arkansas. He also leaves behind his (3) sisters, LaDina Brunetti of Hernando, Angela Lewis of North Carolina and Alissa Ruthen of New York and his (3) brothers, Todd Smith of Arkansas, Dino Brunetti of North Carolina and Lou Andrews of Missouri.
He was preceded in death by his father, Dino “Louie” Brunetti, his two brothers, Tony Smith and Tony Brunetti and his father-in-law, Erwin Spencer Vaughn.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials to Highway Holliness Church, Bakers Chapel Cemetery Association - 371 Malone Rd. S - Attn: Gerald Cooper - Hernando, Mississippi or the charity of your choice.
