The late Lonnie Smith of Picayune, Mississippi, earned undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Mississippi and has since provided life-changing financial assistance to some 110 Mississippi students so far.
With gifts in 2025 already totaling over $267,000, Smith’s enduring financial support for scholarships at Ole Miss has surpassed $3.2 million.
Before his death in 2002, Smith set up the Smith & Waldrop Foundation to fund two annual scholarship programs: one named for his mother, Velma Waldrop Smith, and the other for his father, Lonnie Smith. The foundation trustees have now established two endowments at Ole Miss to provide resources in perpetuity for the scholarships.
“Without question, Lonnie would be impressed by the impact the scholarship programs are making for Ole Miss students,” said David Hemeter, president of the Smith & Waldrop Foundation. “The scholarship programs have exceeded his vision.
“In establishing the scholarships, Lonnie’s desire was to make Ole Miss attendance possible for deserving students who, in many cases, would not have otherwise had the opportunity. His dedication to extending educational opportunities to young people came from his own personal experience,” he said. “He was always thankful for the scholarships he obtained that allowed him to attend the university.”
This academic year, the scholarship programs are funding tuition for 15 full-time undergraduates.
Smith & Waldrop Scholar
Emily Williams, a junior pharmaceutical sciences major and public health minor from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is the recipient of a Lonnie Smith Memorial Scholarship.
“Receiving the Lonnie Smith Memorial Scholarship has been an invaluable blessing for both me and my family. This scholarship has not only eased the financial strain associated with higher education but has also enabled me to concentrate fully on my academic and professional goals without the constant worry of student debt,” said Williams, who has been accepted for early admission to the Ole Miss School of Pharmacy.
“This scholarship has profoundly affected my present circumstances and my future aspirations, providing me with a significant opportunity to achieve my dreams and succeed in the field of pharmacy.”
Williams is planning to pursue a career as a pharmacist in a hospital setting. “I am passionate about patient care and look forward to making a positive impact in the health care field,” she said.
Anna Cate Hays, a freshman integrated marketing communications major from Flora, Mississippi, is a recipient of a Velma Waldrop Smith Memorial Scholarship.
Smith & Waldrop Scholar
“I want to express my deepest gratitude for the investment in my education and future. This support has given me the financial freedom to fully immerse myself in my studies and take advantage of incredible opportunities, including the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College,” said Hays, who hopes to become a magazine fashion stylist and writer.
“Because of this generous support, I can pursue my passion, blending my love for art, graphics, photography and storytelling,” she continued. “More importantly, I am committed to becoming a productive citizen and a proud example of what an Ole Miss graduate can achieve. The belief in students like me makes a lasting impact, and I hope to one day pay it forward by supporting future generations in the same way.”
The awarding of 110 scholarships since the foundation’s creation indicates that Smith’s plan to help others attend his beloved alma mater and obtain a life-changing college education is working, said Hemeter.
“The Foundation is deeply impressed by and proud of the high-quality education Ole Miss offers scholarship recipients. This excellence is evident through direct communication and correspondence with students, from their first year of college to graduation,” he said.
Smith, who completed his undergraduate degree in 1958 and his law degree in 1960, used his holdings of First National Bank of Picayune stock to create the Smith & Waldrop Foundation, said Hemeter, who is also president and CEO of the bank.
In addition to supporting his alma mater, Lonnie Smith was active in his community, serving on the First National Bank of Picayune board of directors and representing Pearl River and Hancock counties in the Mississippi Legislature for 12 years. He was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and the Rotary Club and provided leadership on the statewide Book Friends advisory board and the Pearl River County Library board.
A member of the Mississippi Bar Association, Smith practiced law for over 40 years as a member of the Picayune firm Williams, Smith & Stockstill. His former law partners, Byron Stockstill and Joe Stewart continue to serve on the Smith & Waldrop Foundation board of trustees, in addition to Hemeter and Darlene Holmes.
For more information on creating scholarships, contact Angela Brown, executive director for development, at browna@olemiss.edu or 662-915-3181.
By Tina H. Hahn/UM Development