Christopher Smith

1962 - 2023

Christopher Smith

November 18, 1962 - September 26, 2023

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina - Christopher Jordan Smith, born November 18, 1962, son of the late Jordan Smith and Martha Smith, passed away in his sleep on September 26, 2023, while visiting Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He is survived by his aunt Carol Norton and uncle Tom Norton of Birmingham, Alabama, and by his many friends.

A celebration of Chris's life will be held at the Mellow Mushroom, 33 Office Park Road, Hilton Head Island, 29928 on Sunday, October 22, 2023, from 3:00 to 6:00. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American Battlefield Trust Fund, 1156 15th St., N.W. suite 900, Washington, D.C.

Chris was a mentor, a friend, an historian, and a brother with a love of music, storytelling and spending time with friends and family. He was adventurous, inquisitive, and loved experiences with other people. He was not a man to let dust gather on his shoes.

As a young man Chris was an accomplished guitar player and played in several bands around his homes in Durham and Chapel Hill, North Carolina. After moving to California in the mid 1980's, he was able to fulfill his dream of working in the live music industry for his idol Ronnie James Dio. He then headed back East to pursue another dream of working in the golf industry and making a career of playing golf. He stumbled into being a radio D.J., continuing the lifetime theme of working around music. He genuinely loved those years.

He and his father Jordan, a professor of American history, shared a love of the Civil War. They travelled together to visit historic battlefields. Whether he knew if or not, Chris was a storyteller and a teacher. He was always happy to talk about his travels with his father, or his time on the road with Dio, often times having the unique ability to tie those stories into the conversation and share a lesson that he had learned from his experience.

Later in life as Chris's health began to fail him, his character and his desire to share with friends and family never waned. He always maintained his drive for social contact with a zest for life and an interest in how his friends were doing in their lives. With all of the challenges he faced, he always wore his unique smile and pleasant demeanor.

Chris will be terribly missed by everyone who knew him as a friend and by others whose lives he touched.