Willie Melvin Smith Jr. went to be with the Lord on May 1, 2017, surrounded by his family at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. He was the son of the late Annie Sue and Willie Melvin Smith Sr.

Melvin was the longest serving member of the Nansemond-Suffolk Volunteer Rescue Squad, serving 56 years. He served more than 20 years as president, and he was one of the first Advanced Life Support providers in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He worked for Ford all his life, working with various dealerships, most recently for Cavalier Ford, as their outside sale representative for parts.

Melvin is survived by his wife, Leola Pearce Smith; daughters, Arlene Smith, Lisa Tarkington and husband, Steve Tarkington Jr.; grandchildren, Tori Tarkington and Ginger Tarkington; brother, Earl Carter Smith and wife, Glenda, all of Suffolk; several nieces and nephews; brother-in-law, Gregory Pearce and wife, Hazel; and special friends, Rusty Hundley and Rusty Blow.

A funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday at Bethlehem Christian Church, 1549 Holland Road, Suffolk, VA 23434, by the Rev. Matt Winters. The burial will follow at Holly Lawn Cemetery with honors from the U.S. Army, Fire and Rescue. The family will receive friends in the R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory, 509 W. Washington St., Suffolk, VA 23434, on Wednesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Nansemond-Suffolk Rescue Squad, PO Box 1515, Suffolk, VA 23439. Condolences may be registered at RWBakerFH.com.