Marie Hardie Smith

Marie Hardie Smith of Long Beach, Mississippi died on Monday, April 13, 2026, at the age of eighty-something. No one in the family is entirely certain of the exact number, which somehow feels fitting for a fiery redhead who never saw much reason to explain herself.

Marie was born in Ridgeway, Virginia to Champ Hardie Sr. and Gladys Emerson Hardie and grew up in the lively company of a large and closeknit family alongside her siblings Champ Jr., Jimmy, Molly, Vicky, Charles, and John. She adored her siblings and remained close to them throughout her life; especially cherishing her weekly Sunday calls with little sister, Vicky.

At some point along the way she traded the hills of Virginia for the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where she met and built a life with her husband, Wayne Smith. For more than 40 years, the two raised their children and shared many of the small rituals that mattered most to them including family lunches, dinners with friends, gardening, drives along the MS Coast, trips to Florida and an occasional glass of wine. Wayne never failed to raise his glass and toast her with two simple words, “happy times.”

She had a deep appreciation for the everyday joys of life and had a particular love of sunflowers which, like her, are tall, cheerful and impossible to ignore. 

Marie graduated from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and The University of Southern Mississippi, something she was proud of, and spent her working life at the Stennis Space Center.

Marie found particular joy in spoiling her children and grandchildren whenever she had the chance. Sometimes that meant quietly slipping them a little extra cash. Other times it meant making them a special treat she called a “Grandma Supreme.” To anyone else it might have looked like an ordinary ice cream cone, but in the minds of her grandchildren it was something far more magical.

If you asked Marie what she was proudest of the answer would have been simple: her family. Together with her husband, Wayne, she took great pride in the lives their children, stepchildren, grandchildren and great-grandchildren built for themselves; celebrating each success as if it were their own.

She is survived by her husband, Wayne Smith of Long Beach, Mississippi; her children, Gary Tincher and Lynn Tincher-Ladner; and stepchildren including Kip Smith, Kirk Smith, Gabe and Trish. She is also survived by her adoring grandchildren and great-grandchildren, along with her siblings Champ Hardie Jr., Jimmy Hardie, Molly Hanks and Vicky Stroupe. She was preceded in death by her parents, Champ Hardie Sr. and Gladys Emerson Hardie, and by her brothers John Hardie and Charles Wade Hardie.

There will be no services at this time. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation.

Riemann Family Funeral Home, Long Beach is assisting the family.