Rev Dr. Joseph H. Smith

 Rev. Dr. Joesph Henry "J.H." Smith was a highly respected and stabilizing member in the Black community. He will always be remembered for the work he did in the far western counties. 

The Rev Doc was a highly respected moderator for the Waynesville Missionary Baptist Association for 52 years.He was also the preacher at Scott's Creek Liberty Baptist Church of Sylva for 54 years and the preacher at Mt. Olive Baptist Church of Mars Hill for 58 years.

Mrs. Woodford recalls in her book a time when the Rev Doc quietly slipped her little sister Margaret and her a coin or a dollar as he and his wife talked to her mother and father. Back then most ministers never seemed to notice that children never existed, it was because of his generosity to them that this was ingrained in her memory.

Because of his many accomplishments, including 1979 Citizen of the Year in Jackson County, Shaw University presented Rev. Smith with an Honorary Doctorate Degree in 1982.