David Wayne Smith, Jr.

Dave

I only wish I would have seen you sooner. My heart is heavy knowing that I haven’t seen or talked to you in a while. I can remember you were the first person i told when i got pregnant with Kylie and I’ll never forget what you told me lol. When I left Jackson I told you I would miss you and you of course with little comments immediately said “no you won’t”. My friend, I will miss you! your funny remarks, your dinasour phone your horrible sci fi movies clips and for the rides home to south beach!

Love Nyxlie

Dave Dave Dave, I absolutely loved they way you made us laugh. I remember the first day you came to PICU. I loved how you would just let me talk endlessly about my parenting (& I loved your hilarious commentary along with it). Your love of sci fi and stupid videos. I loved the way you use to smile and just be Dave. It took my breath away the day I heard we lost you. Love my sweet friend - Angela

Oh Dave, you were one of my favorite nurses and friends. You had the best sarcasm and you made me laugh so much. I always knew I could trust your assessment of a patient and if you told me they weren’t ok, I knew I needed to get over there quickly.
I haven’t seen you since I was a fellow in 2014, but I think of you often. You helped me through many a tough patient situation. Thank you for being a good friend and coworker.

Lindsay Sikora (Jackson Picu fellow 2011-2014)

Death Is Nothing At All

By Henry Scott-Holland

Death is nothing at all.
It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Nothing has happened.

Everything remains exactly as it was.
I am I, and you are you,
and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.

Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it.

Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was.
There is absolute and unbroken continuity.
What is this death but a negligible accident?

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval,
somewhere very near,
just round the corner.

All is well.
Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was before.
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!

Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/death-is-nothing-at-all-by-henry-scott-holland. We are blessed to have been graced by Dave. His humor, sensitivity, sensibility and integrity. 🙏 Truly blessed to have his memory as our blessing.

I’ll miss my friend. Dave talked tough but he was one of the sweetest people I knew and had a giant heart. He always kept me laughing at work and was my go to person to talk about sci-fi movies. Over the 10 years I got to know him he only became more embedded in my heart. He used to scold me for walking too fast so I’ll try to slow it down and take it all in for you my friend. Love you.