Mayor Topsail Smith ‘always did his homework’

Steve Smith made it a point to travel beyond the Topsail Island town where he had served for nearly a decade to familiarize himself with the problems of the North Carolina coast.

“He kept up with the information that was coming out at all levels — state, federal, local,” North Topsail Beach Deputy Mayor Mike Benson said Monday. “He always did his homework and had his background figured out before he started talking about issues. So he was right most of the time. And he knew what was going on in Virginia and South Carolina and how some of their policies could be good here.”

Smith, who was serving his second term as mayor of Topsail Beach, died “peacefully” Friday, according to a city news release. He was 73.

His death “leaves a huge void in the city of Topsail Beach,” the release said. “His leadership, wisdom and compassion will be greatly missed by all who knew him.”

Topsail Beach Deputy Mayor Morton Blanchard said Smith was an “excellent mayor.”

“He was a better politician than I ever will be. He knew how to reach out to legislators and get money for this small town,” Blanchard said in a telephone interview Monday afternoon. “I got mad at him a few times during our time together, but he always managed to stay calmer than I did. He was a good friend. He personally loved that beach as much as anyone else.”

Born in Portsmouth, Virginia, Smith had a childhood typical of a military boy who moved frequently around the country.

The family’s final posting was Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, where Smith dropped out of high school to attend East Carolina University, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in 1973.

More than 40 years later, in 2016, his alma mater honored him with the Outstanding Alumni Award, one of the university’s most prestigious awards, which recognizes alumni who have “distinguished and extraordinary achievements in the profession, civic affairs, and/or politics.”

Smith’s career in business and industry in the United States, Southeast Asia and Africa spanned nearly four decades.

In 2011, he retired and he and his wife, Edna, moved to their home in Topsail Beach.

It became obvious that Smith had no intention of leading an entirely carefree life when the couple settled permanently in the small seaside town in Pender County.

He was first elected to city council in 2015 and held the position for four years before running for and winning mayor in 2019 and again in 2023.

He came to serve on countless boards and committees, “a visionary leader who had a passion for serving his community,” according to a city release. “His commitment to preserving the city’s unique character and natural beauty was evident in his many accomplishments over the years.”

During his term, he chaired the Topsail Island Shoreline Protection Commission (TISPC) and in 2019 served on the board of the North Carolina Beach, Inlet and Waterway Association.

Smith was known for his quiet, easy-going nature. It was not uncommon to see him sitting in the audience at the quarterly meetings of the North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission, whose locations rotated between the north, central and south coast areas.

Benson, a TISPC member, spoke somberly in a telephone interview Monday morning about the man he considered a friend.

“Steve had such a positive outlook on life,” he said. “He called you and said, ‘How are you today?’”

Kerri Allen, coastal management program director and coastal advocate for the Wrightsville Beach office of the North Carolina Coastal Federation, said Smith was kind, dedicated and “always willing to think outside the box and try innovative solutions when it comes to coastal resiliency.”

“He truly cared about his community and always put it above any personal or political interests,” Coastal Review responded in an email Monday. “He was a true leader and had the ability to make everyone feel welcome and valued. His passing leaves a huge void in the Topsail community.”

Benson highlighted Smith’s many contributions over the years, including leading TISPC’s efforts to support state funding for Topsail Island beach nourishment projects and Coastal Barrier Resources Act issues, supporting North Carolina’s Marine Debris Action Plan, helping secure funding approval for Surf City’s proposed federal coastal storm risk management project, and most recently leading local efforts with the Coastal Federation all the way up to the state level to ban abandoned vessels in coastal waters.

In addition to his wife, Smith leaves behind a son, a daughter-in-law, two grandchildren and a brother.

A funeral service will be held at 12:00 p.m. Thursday at the Emma Anderson Memorial Chapel in Topsail Beach, followed by a reception at the Municipal Assembly Building.

Blanchard said the city council is scheduled to meet next week to elect a mayor. The date and time of that meeting are to be determined.

“We have a good team here,” Blanchard said. “I don’t think we’re missing out. Whoever is mayor is going to be a hell of a lot harder to replace.”