By Brian Livingston

blivingston@themeridianstar.com



Kelly Huddleston seemed tired.

She, along with her sisters, Bethany Dollan and Hollie Kidd, had joined volunteers Wednesday morning to search a wooded area near Evangel Temple Church on Highway 145 South for their missing father, 67-year old Richard Smith, who was reported missing from his Meridian home Oct. 26.

Despite being bolstered by the attendance of many people she didn’t even know taking out time from their own days to search for a man they’d never met, Huddleston admitted the roller coaster ride of emotions she and her family are experiencing is beginning to take a toll.

“We’ve been to Waynesboro, Quitman and Stonewall handing out flyers,” said Huddleston. “The family is really feeling the effects of this going on so long. We are ready for this to end but we aren’t willing to just give up on our dad.”

Smith is a heart patient. He has gone without his medications since the day he mysteriously disappeared. With each sliver of



information, or each tip they receive that may finally point them in the right direction, Huddleston said the family gets a boost of hope.

“It’s just the low that comes with the information not panning out that is so hard to take,” she said.

Information about a sighting in Quitman

was dispelled Wednesday. The latest and most reliable tip Huddleston said they can act upon came from a motorist who said he picked up Smith sometime Friday evening.

“It is the spot where we believe he was last seen,” Huddleston said of the area they searched near Dr. Brock Road just south of Evangel Temple Church. “He told us he let dad off at the stop sign where Dr. Brock Road runs into Hwy. 145 South. That’s why we searched there today.”

But the search turned up no clues as to what happened to Smith after he was reportedly dropped off.

Event the manufacturer of Smith’s pacemaker was notified to see if it was one of the newer models that had a GPS chip installed inside.

It wasn’t.

“I can’t help but notice how people have responded to our situation,” Huddleston said. “That, all the volunteers, the people who are praying for us and my dad, has helped us to cope. It has given us a little hope seeing the support. We really appreciate it.”

For now, the family must wait for any new information. The wait could be as maddening as the emotional roller coaster itself.



The details:



Richard Smith

67 years old

Last seen Oct. 26 about 6 p.m. in the area of Dr. Brock Road and Hwy. 145 South near Evangel Temple Church.

Six feet tall, weighing 145 pounds.

Wearing blue jeans and a black and gray sweater and white tennis shoes.

If you have seen this man, contact the nearest law enforcement agency in your area.