Brian Warwick Smith

It is with profoundly heavy hearts and everlasting love that our family wishes to announce the passing of Brian Warwick Smith, 52, affectionately known to many of his friends as “Smitty.” Departing abruptly and far too soon Sunday, August 9, 2026, from an unforeseen medical emergency in Bluefield, WV, Brian has left his mark on this earth and a deeply lasting imprint on the hearts of all who loved him. To encapsulate the measure of the boy and the man that Brian had become is a daunting and overwhelming challenge. To do justice in honoring him, nearly impossible. However, the most important privilege at hand–before any mention of his life stages–must clearly be to shine an all-encompassing beacon upon the inner magic of this “gentle giant.” Larger than life in stature, presence, and generous spirit, he was graced with a myriad of qualities and virtues: his big-hearted joy in living and boundless enthusiasm for the simplest of pleasures and deeds; his infectious, charismatic energy and enthusiasm that could absolutely infuse his voice with joy or lighten up any room; his compassion and deep regard for fairness, tolerance, and justice; his logical, analytical, decisive mind, equally measured by depth of perception, insight, and sensitivity; an outgoing and hearty nature balanced by a softer, contemplative thoughtfulness and introspection; an aptitude for leadership and purpose-driven goals; his gift of articulate, even eloquent, communication, whether it be the spoken or written word; his tremendous enthusiasm and drive (toddler year: “He would get excited crossing the street,” his Dad used to say); not just a “can-do” guy, but a “Big All-In” guy. As a strong and dynamic leader, he still retained an enormous sense of fun and playfulness; of boyish wonder, a reverence for the human spirit and the grandeur of Nature. His goodness, kindness; the Ardent Protector. With all his many gifts, though, the one attribute that completely defined him–the most cherished, undeniable, and irrepressible–would unquestionably be his pure and enormously tender heart. Quite simply, to us, he was one-of-a-kind. Certainly another large piece of the mosaic that was Brian Smith–the equally big mind that intersected with that big heart–merits a further tipping of the hat. His agile intellect fueled an insatiable curiosity about the world and all its treasures. Whether it concerns the mundane; the light-hearted, or the profound, the technical or the scholarly–his zest for learning appeared seemingly endless. In grade-school years, he could easily be found lying on his bed, reading an encyclopedia. Fast forward to his teenage years, and the same bedroom scene might reflect him (by his own choice) consuming a Shakespeare play for the sheer pleasure of its lyrically beautiful and meaningful words. Until his last, reading–even listening to audio books during his daily work commute–continued to entertain, edify, and enrich his world. Through the years, aside from the typical entertainment fare, you could just as easily find him watching TV documentaries–especially those featuring his deep love for American or World history, travel, or exploration of the universe–Nova being a personal favorite; NPR radio and thought-provoking podcasts helped to provide further enlightenment for his searching mind. That same curiosity to understand “the miracle that is life” evolved more fully into an all-embracing and abiding passion for Mother Nature, its wildlife, and the Great Outdoors. To his family, his love of the natural world served as an eye-window to much of the man within. More than any brick-and-mortar edifice, to Brian, Nature was his cathedral; leaves, its canopy. There he could marvel in awe and reverence at the splendid grandeur and miraculous wonder of Creation. In it he saw what binds us all; his spirituality expressed so fully in this deep connection of spirit. It’s no wonder then that he approached every single day with profound joy for life and its adventures. You could easily picture him climbing the trails along the Cliffs of Moher or strolling atop the cliffs of Ireland’s daunting Slieve League, confident and blithely impervious to risk, so strong was his symbiotic connection to Mother Earth. Whether navigating a rugged mountain trail or gazing outward from his favorite craggy rock within the majesty of his beloved (and nearly sacred-to-him) Dolly Sods Wilderness–or visiting his family’s just-acquired second home–christened most appropriately Seas the Day–there, at Holden Beach, NC, rising to capture the sunrise, then sharing a quiet morning, combing sandy shores for shells–all are testament to the depths of his soul and spirit. Some of his other favorite pastimes through the years were camping/ fishing (Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Cranberry Glades, WV, a few stand-outs) exploring, scuba diving, riding the waves (can see him clearly, at about age 8-10, riding the waves to shore, flat on his stomach, quickly jogging back to the beach house for a scoop of peanut butter, then diving back in for another full-on hour of torpedo wave-rides), beachcombing, hiking, running (including completing the MU Half-Marathon and the Pittsburgh Marathon), woodworking, guitar-playing, birdwatching and poring over his bird books (purchasing his mom a pair of binoculars this Mother’s Day so they could share more fully in the contentment of this mutual pastime), sitting with his dogs, shelling, singing, listening to music, traveling, Mr. Fix-It tinkering/repairing (numerous, massive, back yard-oak trees uprooted by Hurricane Helene? Sawed nearly all into logs), daily cooking/baking, homemade breadmaking. He approached every single day with profound joy for life and its adventures. Brian’s life began in Fairmont, WV, on March 4, 1974, born to Craig W Smith and Dianne (Shreve) Smith; he and his family moved the next year to Charleston, WV. Until his college departure, Brian spent nearly all of those years growing up in the Cross Lanes community, surrounded by a close-knit group of friends, many of whom are still like brothers to this day. Despite maintaining the A Honor Roll throughout and participating in All-County Chorus at one point, Brian was undoubtedly more widely-known for his excellence and eventual dominance in sports. His athletic participation kicked off at age six and continued throughout his college years, moving from his “Big-Foot” soccer, baseball, and basketball seasons in grade school years to football and track & field (hurdles, discus, shot put) in junior high; culminating with emergence in high school as a three-year letter winner in shotput, and placing 5th in States his senior year. It was only in August of his rising junior year that Brian chose to resume football, yet the gridiron immediately became his dominant focus in sports. Brian exploded on the state and national scene in his senior year of football as Nitro High’s starting Center and Defensive End–starting at both positions in every game. He received scores of recruitment letters, including the likes of Penn State, Michigan, Notre Dame, some Ivy League schools, and the premier military academies. However, Nitro’s #79 was most heavily recruited by both WVU and Ohio State. In September of his senior year, Brian’s first distinguished honor was being named to Thompson Newspapers First Team All-America, replete with a pictorial, full page-spread in the Sunday Charleston Gazette. Throughout the year he attained the following distinctions: First Team Kanawha Valley Conference, First Team All-Kanawha County, First Team WV All-State, Radio V-100 Hero of the Day, McDonald’s Player of the Year for WV, West Virginia Sports Magazine First Team, Ultimate All-State, (WVU) Morgantown Touchdown Club Player of the Year, All-East ACC-Big East First Team Recruiting Round-up, Bigger Faster Stronger Second Team All-American, Blue Chip Magazine First-Team All-American, Tom Lemming Scouting Magazine First Team All-American, Super Prep All-American, Columbus Touchdown Club Player of the Year–Finalist, Super Prep Top 100 Players, and All-American Scholar. Despite having been intensely recruited by WVU, Brian, at the time a Blue & Gold fan through and through, ultimately decided to sign with OSU, noted nationally as a premier program for offensive linemen. As a member of the 1992 recruiting class, including recruits such as Korey Stringer, Heisman Winner Eddie George, Lorenzo Styles, and Luke Fickell, Brian was the first among the gathered recruits to be summoned to Coach Cooper’s office for the 1992 Recruiting Class selection that Saturday. He walked out with a full scholarship and an honorary buckeye tucked into his palm. Having been redshirted his freshman year and already designated second string, he began to impress the coaches early in his freshman year with his performance on the scout team, often acting as Center for QB Kirk Herbstreit at daily practice and garnering playing time in a half-dozen games. Meanwhile, coaches fueled him with the belief that he would one day stand on their “All-American Platform” and play on Sundays. A totally unexpected “blown” knee at the start of spring practice ultimately altered his future with the Buckeyes. Having been tagged as starting Center for his upcoming sophomore year and predicted as All-Big 10 in Street & Smith’s pre-season magazine, an accelerated, prioritized, intense weightlifting regimen likely precipitated a fractured L5 vertebra, sidelining that dream. Following two grueling surgeries encompassing nearly an entire day and a week-long hospital stay that would require a three-month recovery, Brian ultimately made the decision to transfer to Huntington, WV’s Marshall University, where he worked at various jobs to pay for college and lodging expenses through graduation. With the Big Move, Brian transcended far beyond that elusive dream of his youth, allowing a resilience to triumph over the recent adversity and great disappointment; to, in effect, channel an inner, rather than a physical strength; to grow forward with an eye toward forging a new chapter, a whole new purpose, new goals and direction. Here, in the land of green and white, beyond academics, he zeroed in on creating and deepening new and old relationships, and, to a greater extent than before, communing with the Great Outdoors. During those halcyon years, an encouraged Brian joined the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, assuring his entrance into a dearly-held, lifelong brotherhood that continued for him to his very last day. Each August since graduation, frat alums have congregated at “The Annual,” a celebratory, outdoor gathering where he and his “band of brothers” have bonded ever closer: roasting pigs, enjoying breakfasts of “Smitty-cakes,” storytelling, fellowshipping, mourning and celebrating lost loved ones, and, of course, hosting a keg-toss contest–of which Brian, discus & shot put coming in handy, was a 14-time winner, his furthest toss exceeding 50 feet. This would become one of his most anticipated and beloved traditions–the joy, the camaraderie, the bonding that comes with long-time friends. From his MU years also sprang his enhanced exploration of the Natural World. It was at this moment in time that he began to pursue it with a passion. Having camped somewhat often as a child and having visited most of the beautiful state parks, it was during this period that Brian would discover Dolly Sods; henceforth, it would become a premier, spiritual sanctuary for him. Along with the special brotherhood and communion with Nature he had further developed during his final college years at MU, Brian also finally earned that long-sought after degree. Shortly after graduation, Brian was fortunate enough to be recommended by a kind family friend to the State Farm Insurance Agency for his first adult gainful employment. In his time as an Insurance Representative, he did work stints in Fairmont and Parkersburg, WV; Cumberland, MD, and finally Charleston WV, becoming a Claims Adjustor in those final years. While at State Farm, he was offered a job at the highly regarded law firm of Farmer, Cline & Campbell of Charleston. In this position he was able to hone his skills as claims adjustor, but from a totally different perspective. After several years in the Charleston Branch, Brian volunteered to head up the claims management at the brand-new Beckley Branch due to open. A move to Beckley would have a consequential impact on his life, the location ushering in the possibility of meeting his wife. As Case Manager, Brian would spend twenty years there, happily working for and forming wonderful friendships with his supervisor and colleagues. This summer marked his 20th Anniversary at the Beckley Office; they had just celebrated the event shortly before his passing. Finding his loss as inconceivable as it has been for so many of us, his supervisor offered Brian a glowing tribute, deeply appreciated by his family, with the following remarks: (he was) “trusted, reliable, and responsible;” “so dang smart and such a talent.” (My) “right-hand-man” and “a cherished friend.” “He represented the best of Farmer, Cline & Campbell.” Without question, Brian would want the best, and by far most meaningful, saved for last. Beyond the myriad of wide-ranging interests, accomplishments, and hobbies, nothing–absolutely nothing–could eclipse the passion and devotion he felt for his entire family. Always putting his family first, Brian spent countless hours grocery-shopping, making homemade breads and desserts–not because he had to, but because he truly loved giving of himself to them in every way. He was a truly devoted and loyal husband, father, son, and brother–a guy whose huge heart determined that he assume the role of biggest cheerleader, fiercest fan, motivator-in-chief, and ardent protector. Coming home from his commute after a long work day, he chose to cheerfully prepare all dinner meals; he could be seen constantly ferrying his children to and fro, whether it might concern a local excursion or an after-work Friday-to-and-fro run to WVU for his son; rinse and repeat on Sunday. During his son’s inaugural year with the WVU drumline, Brian naturally videoed all his performances; it wasn’t unusual for him, if he happened to be alone for the rare weekend, to drive up and back on the same evening to visit. If his kids ran into a setback, he would encourage and support them to stay the course, always providing praise for what they were doing right and showing his faith in their ability to overcome and bounce back. A man who loves you with a full-throttled love–more completely, supportively, and unconditionally than can be imagined, would move mountains for you, and give all he had? Such a man was Brian, says his wife, he would also do anything to make life easier for her. In essence, she says he gave her the world and supported her unreservedly. It was no different for his children and adult stepchildren, whom he loved just as unreservedly, as if they were his own. When his and Debbie’s girls were in their early, formative years, he would sit on the floor in their darkened bedroom, serenading them to sleep every night with his gentle rendition of Country Roads. “Again, Daddy.” Yes, again and again. Then, one weekend when he was away for “The Annual,” he still called home from the big farm where they were roasting pigs to sing them to sleep. He would never miss a night; even when his mother babysat for a getaway weekend and even though she would mimic Daddy’s traditions by singing the song, the girls persisted in asking afterward to please hear Daddy, still. Simple enough, he’d been two steps ahead and had actually recorded it for them, to always be there with them and for them. With infinite thanks, we have it to this day. Where his family was concerned, if he ever came across as a bit grumpy or a tad too gruff, he would shortly apologize; if to the kids, they would promptly respond “It’s fine, Daddy,” but he would always say, “No, it’s not.” The Protector? When his two-year-old niece was very ill with pneumonia, he took off a day of work to help care for her; this past May he helped that same niece deal with policy details concerning an insurance agency switch when she relocated to another state; when his mother needed a new roof for her house, he gifted her with the materials and then did the installation with a best friend. Back in the day, where his sisters were concerned, he would nonchalantly let it be known that suitors might have to deal with him if the girls weren’t treated right. He also traveled a great distance to spend time with them. If he wanted to purchase new outdoor gear? The gently used, premier-brand hiking gear would find its way to one of his sisters. As a toddler, you could find him sitting on his Grandpa’s lap at 6 AM on Saturday, sipping some of his oyster-cracker coffee “soup” or lying in front of the refrigerator grate in his full Teddy Bear mode, calling everyone who came by, “You Feetheart.’’ Alongside this oh-so-sweet demonstratively affectionate side, however, sat his rambunctious, “get into everything” side. Barrelling through life a mile a minute, he was a tour de force of energy and motion, earning a half-joking moniker from his dear grandad, “Genghis Khan”; that same grandad would hoist him on his knee to bedazzle him with his loops of cigar smoke-rings. His tenderness towards his family, especially toward his wife and children, was unreservedly evident for all to see. To Brian, family, of which he would include his dear friends, was his greatest treasure in life. He exemplified this most particularly each and every day as husband, father, son, and brother. In effect, “cradling his family in his arms.” Endlessly giving of himself, even in death, Brian’s final wishes were to have his organs donated and ashes spread at a few of his best-loved and revered vistas. He is survived by his beloved family: his wife of 15 years, Debbie Smith; his children Taras (Jade Neubauer), Brooklyn, and Olivia; stepchildren Todd Barrett, Jr. (Jeannie), Madison Dulin (Ben) of Atlanta, GA; his mother Dianne Smith of Asheboro, NC; father Craig Smith and stepmother Keith Ann of Fernandina Beach, FL; siblings Kelly Adkins (Jantzen) of Asheboro, NC; Kerry Rapp (Bryan) of Myrtle Beach, SC; Samuel Smith (Stacie) of Sunnyvale, CA; and Benjamin Smith of Tallahassee, FL; nieces and nephews Shaye McCoy (Aidan Groom) of St. Augustine, FL; Cpl. Sean Adkins, USMC of Washington, D.C.; Troy Adkins of Asheboro, NC; Koen Rapp and Kate Rapp of Myrtle Beach, SC. He is also survived by a large, loving extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, and dear friends with whom he shared countless memories. IMMORTALITY Clare Horner Do not stand By my grave, and weep. I am not there, I do not sleep—- I am the thousand winds that blow I am the diamond glints in snow I am the sunlight on ripened grain, I am the gentle, autumn rain. As you awake with morning’s hush, I am the swift, up-flinging rush Of quiet birds in circling flight, I am the day transcending night. Do not stand By my grave, and cry—- I am not there, I did not die. Those wishing to pay their respects are welcome to do so at one or both of the following services: Catholic Funeral Mass Date & Time: Sat., August 29, 10 AM Location: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1003 Wyoming St., Bluefield WV Notation: Per Brian’s wishes, there will be no burial service Bereavement Luncheon: Luncheon to be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church immediately following the service. In order to assist with the committee’s preparations, we would like to provide them with an approximate number of participants. All are welcome CORRECTION: If you think you may be so inclined, please RSVP asap, by Sunday evening, August 23, 2026, to either his mother (dps1102@gmail.com or sister (kellyadkins72@gmail.com). Lodging: If any travelers require lodging, please consider Princeton or even the Pipestem area; Bluefield’s options may be limited In lieu of flowers, charitable donations to honor Brian’s legacy, love for, and infinite connection to Dolly Sods may be made to “Dolly Sods Wilderness Stewards.” Please make that selection under the “Additional Information” section on the following donation link: https://www.wvhighlands.org/donate-now/ Celebration of Life Gathering In this gentle, relaxed setting dear to Brian’s childhood years, family and friends are invited to celebrate in Nature as he would have wished, share stories and cherished mementos of a life beautifully lived, and find harmony and comfort in food, music, and togetherness Date & Time: Sat., October 24, 12-3 PM. Feel free to stay as late as 5 PM closing Location: Riverside Shelter (Covered), Coonskin Park, 375 Henry C. Hoppy Shores Dr., Charleston, WV Sharing: Opportunities for prepared remarks as well as casual, personal storytelling and memory/video sharing; tribute wall; we welcome any pictures, media or memorabilia Provided: Picnic-style food, refreshments, music, sound system for interested speakers. Feel free to bring your own beverages, cooler, and acoustic instrument– electric is prohibited Parking: Grass-parking prohibited; please park in lot near tennis courts or near Shelter #4 Restrooms Navigation: Helpful venue layout is available on the Coonskin Park Map https://kcprc.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Coonskin-Shelter-Trail-Map-2017.pdf

Brian Warwick Smith

March 4, 1974 - August 9, 2026