Bryan Beckes Smith, 78, of Summerville, South Carolina, entered into eternal rest on Friday, May 1, 2026. His funeral service will be held on Friday, May 8, 2026, at J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Northwoods Chapel at 3:00 p.m. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

Bryan was born April 15, 1948, in St. Louis, Missouri, son of the late Ralph Ogilvy Smith M.D. and the late Ozeta Pauline Beckes Smith. He attended Lincoln High School in Vincennes, Indiana, before attending Vincennes University and Indiana University. Bryan joined the United States Navy in 1969.

Bryan spent 24 years in the nuclear submarine Navy, defending our nation during the Cold War. He served aboard the USS Parche (SSN-683) and later the USS Nathan Hale (SSBN-623), both took him on world adventures. Charleston and San Francisco held a special place in his heart. Bryan, no stranger to hard work, was infamous for his mantra of “can’t means don’t want”. This ethic earned him military awards. Bryan honorably retired in 1990 as a Senior Chief Petty Officer.

Bryan was lucky to find love twice in his lifetime. He married Carol Susan Mazyck in 1971 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Charleston. Following Carol’s passing, he married Pamela “Pam” Harmon in 2002, remaining married until her passing on April 9, 2026. Both Carol and Pam brought out the best in Bryan. The love of a patient woman and the ownership of a red truck were equal constants in his life.

He was a great lover of music, listening with his children to vinyl records in the sunroom, holding evening listening sessions on the porch, or when showing off on a dance floor. Despite his Indiana roots, Bryan had a contagious passion for Carolina beach music like a native South Carolinian and would woo many to the dance floor with his lively and stylish shag.

Bryan had a lifelong affinity for the water. There were Saturday fishing trips with his children fueled by questionable gas station treats, and exactly one Coca-Cola. Expeditions at the lake and deep-sea fishing trips with family were favorites. Decades of adventures beneath the ocean in a submarine produced many great tales.

Although he struggled to compromise with the Canadian geese visiting his lawn each year, Bryan loved all animals. His cat, Bessie, and his many granddogs will miss the overindulgence.

Of all that Bryan Smith was and did, “The Pirate” unapologetically and enthusiastically did life his way. Celebrate Bryan’s memory and life in music here. In lieu of flowers, donations to the National Audubon Society at https://act.audubon.org/a/memorial-gift?ms=digital-fund-web-website_nas-memorial-formquestions_20201200.

Bryan is survived by his two children, Christopher Bryan Mazyck Smith (Amy) and Charlotte Victoria McMillian Reikofski (Ken); and his grandchildren, Lily Grace Carol Smith and Lucy Cordray Diana Smith. He is also survived by his siblings, Susan “Suzie” Long (Earle), Eric Smith (Sheila), Sherry Taylor (Greg), and Joel Smith (Jackie). Bryan dearly loved his many nieces and nephews, in-laws past and present, and lifelong friends.

Bryan was preceded in death by his first wife, Carol Susan Mazyck Smith; his second wife, Pamela “Pam” Harmon Smith; his mother, Ozeta Pauline “Bess” Beckes Smith; his father, Ralph Ogilvy “R.O.” Smith, M.D.; and his brother, Ralph Beckes Smith.

A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.