Benita Harper Smith Hyatt

(October 29, 1948 – May 3, 2020)

A private family graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5, 2020, at the Rutland Cemetery in Mount Olive for Benita Harper Smith Hyatt, 71 of Mount Olive, who passed away on Sunday, May 3, 2020 at the Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg.

Brother Rudy Jackson and Pastor Tony Duckworth will officiate at the services with interment to follow in the Rutland Cemetery in Special music will be provided by Shad Harvey and Cody Harvey.  Billy M. King-Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Collins will be in charge of the arrangements.  The funeral will adhere to the state's protocol on social distancing and no more than ten family members in the funeral home at one time.

She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, and sister.  The joy of her life was her grands and step-grands.  She enjoyed attending any and all of her grandchildren's activities.  She was a "Bonus" mom and grandmother to her step-children and step-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Tim Harrison, Zach Smith, Braxton Crager, Jarrett Moss, Cody Allen-Boyd Hyatt, and Lucious Hubbard.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Malcolm Smith; parents, Paul Benton and Mary Marie Harper; one brother, James Buddy Harper; and one sister, Jane Carol Harper.

Survivors include her husband, Allen Hyatt, two sons, Terry Smith of Hattiesburg and Paul Smith and wife, Felicia, of Collins; two step-daughters, Jamie Crager and husband, Jeremy of Stateline, and Kristen Moss and husband, Jarrett, of Stateline; one step-son, Cody Allen-Boyd Hyatt of Buckatunna;  six grandchildren, Taylor Burt (Alexis), Hayden Burt, Abrianne Smith, Paul Smith Jr., Zach Smith, and Kealy Smith; four step-grandchildren, Braxton Crager, Sayer Crager, Ryder Moss and Kindle Moss; one great-grandchild, Aubreigh Burt.

Family and friends may sign an online guestbook at www.billymkingcolonialchapel.com