Shayne Smith, 61, of Little Rock, Ark.,
passed away peacefully on Friday, March 29, 2024, surrounded by loved ones. Shayne’s courageous journey through fibrosing hypersensitivity pneumonitis and a challenging recovery from a double lung transplant displayed his remarkable resilience, courage, and indomitable spirit up to his final moments.
A proud son of Little Rock, Shayne’s love for his hometown ran deep. He held a Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR), William H. Bowen School of Law, and a bachelor’s degree in communications from UALR. Shayne dedicated 30 years of his professional life to the Acxiom Corporation, retiring in October 2023 as its General Counsel. He was not just a colleague but a mentor and friend to many, remembered for his leadership, wisdom, and unwavering support.
Shayne’s commitment to justice and equality was evident through his service on the board of directors for VOCALS, the Volunteers’ Organization Center for Arkansas Legal Services, since 2012. This organization, a joint venture of local bar associations, provides pro bono legal services to low-income individuals, embodying Shayne’s belief in the power of giving back to the community.
Beyond his professional achievements, Shayne was known as “The Windbreaker” on Twitter, especially during the Bret Bielema era of Arkansas Razorbacks football, where his brilliant sense of humor and witty banter won him many admirers. An avid Saint Louis Cardinals baseball fan and a repository of sports knowledge, Shayne’s passions extended to reading, music, and collecting sports memorabilia.
Shayne’s greatest joy was his family. He is survived by his loving wife of 15 years, Tracy Young Smith, of Little Rock; his son, Zachary Smith, of Nashville, Tenn.; daughter, Kirby Anne Smith, of Naples, Fla.; stepsons Sam Hathcock, of Helena, Mont., and Calum Hathcock, of Little Rock; brother, Stan Smith, of Little Rock; niece, Natalie Smith, of Fayetteville, Ark.; and nephew, Dylan Smith, of Fayetteville. Shayne was a devoted father and stepfather, always prioritizing the needs of his children. His legacy of love, guidance, and support will continue to live on in them.
Honorary pallbearers will be Sam Hathcock, Calum Hathcock, Stan Smith, Dylan Smith, Benji Smith of Lima, Peru, Stephen Young of Fort Smith, Ark., Cliff Ivey of Fort Smith, Josh Leicht of Conway, Ark., Sterling Mullis of Virginia and Kevin Heifner of Little Rock.
A celebration of Shayne’s life will be held on April 5th, at 2 p.m., at Highland Valley United Methodist Church. A visitation will be held at the home of John and Holly Speed on April 4th at 6-7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers and to honor Shayne’s commitment to helping those in need, the family requests donations to VOCALS or to P.A.R.K. (Positive Atmosphere Reaches Kids).