Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Hoke Smith succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained five months earlier when four men came to his house near Clarkton and shot him.
The murder was in retaliation for Deputy Smith's involvement in a raid on an illegal whiskey still in Welches Creek township.
The four suspects all pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and were sentenced to 20 to 25 years in prison. One was paroled on January 10th, 1936. Another escaped from prison in October of 1930 and was captured in April of 1933 in Oklahoma. He escaped again on April 12th, 1939, but was quickly recaptured. He was paroled on February 13th, 1943.
Deputy Smith was survived by his wife, three sons, and five daughters.
Survivors
Deputy Smith was survived by his wife, three sons, and five daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-FF3C8D70- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Smith served with the Columbus County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Whiteville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Hoke Baird Smith is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Columbus County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Hoke Baird Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Hoke Baird Smith Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 25 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Hoke Baird Smith is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Hoke Baird Smith was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Columbus County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
