Bernard Reid Smith, Jr. died peacefully at his Biltmore Forest home on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014. He was born Oct. 10, 1923, to Dr. and Mrs. Bernard Reid Smith. He is predeceased by his wife Dorothy Danielson Smith and by his son Daniel Reid Smith.

Bernard, affectionately known as Barney, was born and grew up in Asheville. He attended Mars Hill College. He served two years in the military during WWII. Following his military service and his marriage, he attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was graduated with a degree in Journalism.

He and Dorothy returned to Asheville. Barney was long time courthouse reporter for The Asheville Citizen-Times newspaper. He was known for his in-depth knowledge of the city, county and state political scene and who’s who in government. He ended his career as Managing Editor of The Asheville Times.

He was a past member of the board of trustees of the University of North Carolina at Asheville, the Presbyterian Home for Children and served on the zoning board for the Town of Biltmore Forest.

Bernard’s grandfather, the late Rev. Robert Perry Smith, served as head of the Reidville Female Academy in Reidville, S.C., served as the second president of Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C. and later returned to North Carolina to become the founder of the Presbyterian Home for Children in Black Mountain, N.C.

Bernard is survived by a daughter, Page Smith Petty and her husband, Joseph Taggart Petty of Landrum, S.C.; grandson, Thomas Reay Rountree and wife, Carrie of Charleston, S.C.; granddaughter, Frances Ann Vaughan and husband, Mark of Campobello, S.C.; step-granddaughter, Susan Petty Kern and husband, Brian of Spartanburg, S.C.; great-grandson Brayden Thomas Rountree of Charleston, S.C.; step great-grandsons Robert Eli Kern and Ean Joseph Kern; and step great-granddaughter Ella Page Kern of Spartanburg, S.C.

A memorial service will be held at First Christian Church, 470 Enka Lake Road, Candler, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014 with family receiving friends and a reception at the church following the ceremony. Private burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, it is suggested memorials be made to First Christian Church, Presbyterian Home for Children, Black Mountain, N.C. or Four Seasons Hospice.

Morris Funeral Home, 304 Merrimon Avenue is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent through the website www.morrisfamilyfuneralhome.com.