Former Roanoke Rapids City Councilman Wayne Smith vowed a comeback Tuesday after he was honored by his colleagues on the panel as well as the chair of the Halifax County Board of Commissioners.

“I’ll be back,” Smith said after the council read a resolution honoring him into the record and board of commissioners Chair Vernon Bryant read a letter from the county thanking him for his service.

Smith stepped down in June due to health concerns following a cancer diagnosis but has said the prognosis is good.

Former Roanoke Rapids Police Department Deputy Chief Andy Jackson was appointed to fill Smith’s unexpired term last month.

The resolution read by Mayor Emery Doughtie says that Smith, who was born January 14, 1943, has been a lifelong resident of the city.

He was elected to the council in 2013 to represent District 2. “During his three terms in office Wayne was instrumental in facilitating the sale of the former Roanoke Rapids Theatre, reducing the city’s long-term debt, and supported economic growth in the city.”

On December 5, 2023, he was elected to serve as mayor pro tem.

Smith also served as a council liaison on the Roanoke Rapids Area Planning Board as well as other various boards including the Recreation Advisory Committee, the Halifax County EMS Advisory Board, the Land Use/Health Care Plan Steering Committee, and the North Carolina League of Municipalities Tax and Finance Legislative Action Committee.

“Wayne’s calling for service to his community started in the 1970s, serving 15 years of volunteer rescue,” the resolution says. “He is an honorary member of the Roanoke Valley Rescue Squad where he served as treasurer, commander and on the board of directors.”

The document also notes that Smith “is a devoted advocate for Roanoke Rapids Youth Baseball and began volunteering in 1982. He served as treasurer from 2014 to 2017 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame on September 17, 2018.

“ … The Roanoke Rapids City Council adopts this resolution of appreciation for Wayne Smith with deep gratitude for his dedicated service of over 10 years on the Roanoke Rapids City Council and many years to the community and extends to him our best wishes for health and happiness in the future.”

In accepting the resolution, Smith said, “I want to really thank the citizens of Roanoke Rapids. They put a lot of trust in me to elect me on city council. I’d also like to thank council for all the times we got together and had a lot of discussions. I think we had a good council at the time and I appreciate the help that y’all gave me and backed me on a lot of decisions we made.”

He thanked City Manager Kelly Traynham for “being a good city manager and I know Roanoke Rapids is going to prosper as long as you stay there.”

He also thanked City Attorney Geoffrey Davis for the times they had talked about various city issues. “I called you quite a lot. You know that. I appreciate all the help you gave me.”

He also acknowledged the late Julian Allsbrook as the person he missed the most. 

“I really thank the citizens of Roanoke Rapids for the trust that they really put into me and the opportunity they gave me to serve on the council. I’d like to thank my wife for standing behind me a hundred percent.”

Before he read the county’s letter, Bryant said, “There’s a lot I can say about Wayne Smith. He’s been a true friend of mine for a very long time. Even before I became a county commissioner and before he became a city councilman we became friends and collaborated on many things.”

The letter says, “Please accept this letter in honor of your leadership, dedication and outstanding service on the Roanoke Rapids City Council representing District 2 and serving as mayor pro tem.

“During your tenure as an elected official you served on many boards, including the EMS board in Halifax County, and committees and demonstrated wisdom, creativity, and community spirit. You have been a tremendous advocate for the citizens of Roanoke Rapids.”

The letter says that Smith made decisions on many critical issues. “You have made decisions affecting the character of the community and exhibited great concern for the health, safety, and welfare of citizens, thus enhancing services and improving Halifax County’s unique quality of life.”

Doughtie said after the presentations, “Mr. Smith, when I was running my first time, he helped me. When I say helped he gets out. He just doesn’t sit at home. He gets things done. I managed to win the prize so to speak.”

Doughtie talked about the trips to Raleigh he took with Smith and former Councilman Carl Ferebee to attempt to get a refinancing deal for the former Roanoke Rapids Theatre, which has since been sold. “We went, I don’t know how many times, working with that refinancing. It was like we were getting nothing done and finally something happened. It was good for us. It reduced our debt. It reduced our payment. It was just all worthwhile.”

At the time Doughtie said the city was struggling with operating the theater. “Wayne made a lot of communication and had a lot of conversations with different people all along who had bought it or leased it. We were just trying to keep it limping along. The idea was we would have a much better chance of selling it. All of these things he was instrumental in.”

The mayor said when Smith sat on the council, “You could look over there and see he was getting ready to speak his mind for lack of a better word. Sometimes we didn’t all agree, but I think that’s what made us a good council.”

He also gave a lot of time and effort to young people, Doughtie said. “He made a comment about the trust that we put in him and immediately I just thought about the reason we trust you Mr. Smith is because you gave us reasons to trust you and you earned that trust because of the things that you did for our community. For that I thank you.”