Board OKs fallen servants’ pensions

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The Memphis Pension Board approved pension allowances Thursday for the families of police officer Verdell Smith and fire Lt. Rodney Eddins, who both died in the line of duty earlier this year.

Smith, 46, was clearing Beale Street of civilians the night of June 4 when a vehicle driven by the suspect in a Downtown shooting spree struck and killed him. Justin Welch, 21, was charged with Smith’s death and for the shooting.

Smith’s daughter Chelsea and son Verdell “VJ” Smith Jr. will each receive semimonthly payments of $546.30.

Eddins collapsed in April as he and his crew of firefighters extinguished a fire inside a Southwest Memphis home. Other firefighters couldn’t resuscitate Eddins, and he was later pronounced dead at Methodist South Hospital.

Eddins’ wife, Leveria Denise Eddins, will receive a semimonthly allowance Verdell Smith of $1,366.35. She was approved for a non-line-ofduty death benefit in May, which is the same amount but is all taxable, as opposed to a lineof-duty benefit, most of which isn’t taxable.

Mayor Jim Strickland, Rodney Eddins who chairs the Pension Board as a nonvoting member, said after the unanimous vote that the city owes a debt to Smith and Eddins’ families for their service.

“This is really important for the city because you have two individuals who gave their lives serving the citizens,” he said.

The allowances were calculated based on years of service and will be available as long as family members are eligible — which for children is until they are no longer dependents and for spouses is unless they remarry.

“It’s something she deserves,” said Thomas Malone, president of the Memphis Firefighters Association, who was at the meeting and spoke on behalf of Eddins’ widow. “It’s something that should be coming her way.”