Iverson Ashby (Smitty) Smith II of Fayetteville, a youth baseball and football coach in Cumberland County for 40 years, died Monday after a long illness. He was 70. Memorial services will be held at Highland Presbyterian Church at 3 p.m. Friday, officiated by the Rev. Dr. Ewart Wyle. The family will receive friends following the service in the church fellowship hall. Smitty was born in Wilmington, a son of the late Iverson Ashby Smith and Annie Lucille Rowe Bush. At age 11, his family moved to Greensboro where he graduated from Grimsley High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served aboard the USS Turner Joy (DD-951) for four years during the Vietnam War. After his service, he moved to Fayetteville to work for Eastman Kodak Company as an electronics technician for more than 25 years, retiring in 1991. While he was a dedicated technician at Eastman Kodak, Smitty's passion was coaching youth baseball and football. Coach Smith taught thousands of children ages 10-12 during his 40 years at Honeycutt, Kiwanis, Tokay and Brentwood recreation centers. But it was not just the technique of the games that was his calling. He often said he was in the business of helping kids. His priority was to make sure that each kid had a chance to play and, just as important, that the game was fun for all. Coach Smith's passion and philosophy can be viewed in a documentary called "Iverson Smith: Life Coach" at www.vimeo.com/40500147. Surviving are his wife of 30 years, Jane McMillan Smith; a son, James William Smith of Jacksonville, FL; two brothers, Bill Bush and wife Betty Anne of Greensboro and Fred Smith and wife Denise of Valdese; a sister, Becky Welch and husband David of Jacksonville, FL; his mother-in-law, Mary Shuler McMillan of Fayetteville; lifetime best friend Pete Tomlinson of Greensboro; best buddy Baley; many nieces and nephews; and thousands of former players, coaches and opponents. Besides his father and mother, he was preceded in death by his step-father, James Bruce Bush. Online condolences may be made to Jernigan-Warren Funeral Home.Memorial Servie: 3PM, Friday, October 12 at Highland Presbyterian Church Visitation: following service in church's fellowship hall