R Hayden Smith Funeral Home and Cremation Services

Home
United States
Hampton, VA
R Hayden Smith Funeral Home and Cremation Services

Since 1901, Family Owned and Operated Funeral Home and Crematory Begun in 1901, R.

Hayden Smith Funeral Home serves the entire Hampton Roads areas with burials in all local cemeteries, cremation in our own crematory in our Berceuse location on Cunningham Drive, Hampton; Pre-Planning of Funerals with and without pre-payment. We are and always have been a family owned firm offering affordable prices and family service

05/02/2026

Smith Family Stories - Bob and the Robber
Bob Smith, son of H. Clyde and Gertrude grew up in the family home on Mellen Street just like his father. As a very young boy, Bob and H. Clyde were in front of their home and a policeman came running down the street. He had been chasing a man but lost him. As they stood in front of the lattice covering on the home's front porch; H. Clyde and policeman talked about what had occurred. All of a sudden, young Bob yells "we know you're under there, come out!" To the surprise of all three of them, out sprints the wanted man. You'll have to ask Bob what happened from there; but we think the officer got his man and H. Clyde might have gotten Bob!

05/01/2026

Smith Family Stories - H. Clyde and his deliver bike ~ H. Clyde son of Hayden and Mary Elizabeth grew up in Phoebus and often delivered flowers in his bicycle basket for the family florist on Mellen Street. On one of the days that he was sent to deliver to the Chamberlin Hotel, he arrived at the front desk to find the hotel in turmoil. As the story goes, he went outside, took his bike across the street and watched the hotel burn. His parents only knew that he went on a delivery and hadn't returned. Can you imagine how well that went when he got home?

04/30/2026

Smith Family Stories - The Judge and Morty Smith ~ Morty, the brother of Hayden and son of William Smith purchased a beach house and piece of property on Chesapeake Avenue back in the time that it looked more like Grandview with no seawalls. Morty rented the property for some time until one day, he went to the tenants and annouced that his nephew was getting married and they had to move out! Robert Hayden Smith, II "Bob" was that nephew and he married wife Carole and they moved into 723 Chesapeake Avenue. There, they raised their family and lived for many years. The renters that Uncle Morty had vacate his property was a young lawyer and his wife. That lawyer went on to become Judge Kashouty.

04/29/2026

Smith Family History - Storyline Part 8
R. Hayden Smith and his wife Mary Elizabeth purchased property on Mellen Street that became the family home, florist, greenhouses, and funeral home. 205 and 207 E. Mellen Street. The florist was a thriving business known as Smith Florist, with many of the family members working there over the years. Bob Smith became known for the beautiful floral arrangements he mastered, and worked both at the funeral home and flower shop.

04/28/2026

Smith Family History - Storyline Part 7
H. Clyde Smith was the son of Hayden and Mary Elizabeth Smith, brother to Mattie and also third generation funeral director. "H. Clyde" like his sister, attended Phoebus Graded School, graduated from Hampton High and the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. He was licensed as a funeral director in 1936. H. Clyde married Gertrude Brockley and they lived in the family home at 207 E. Mellen Street, Phoebus. They raised their two children, R. Hayden Smith, II (aka Bob Smith) and Virginia Smith there. Tim Smith shared that Clyde was his grandfather, and as a mortician, his calm demeanor and wicked sense of humor kept them all laughing as kids. He loved a good story and had a sly smile that made you realize that he had a few secrets about life that he was waiting for you to learn. He had seen some things over his lifetime but he never lost his smile. Clyde was ever-present in the community and believed in the human capacity to thrive. H. Clyde Smith is where the name "Sly Clyde originated from as in "Sly Clyde Ciderworks" operating their taproom in the same home that H. Clyde grew up and raised his family in.

04/27/2026

Smith Family History - Storyline Part 6
Mattie Baker Smith, daughter of Hayden and Mary Elizabeth Smith. Mattie was one of but most likely the first female licensed funeral director in the State of Virginia. She graduated from the graded school in Phoebus, the largest class from Hampton High School Class of 1922, and the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science; then joined her father in the family business as the third generation of directors. Mattie was beautiful inside and out and sadly passed away from illness at age 36. Her nephew, Bob Smith often lovingly referred to his Aunt Mattie as "the brains of the operation". She kept up with the times in both business and fashion.

04/26/2026

Smith Family History - Storyline Part 5
In 2007, Jacob Smith, son of Tim, began working in the funeral home while still in high school. Jake went on to graduate from the University of Virginia College at Wise, followed by mortuary school and was licensed in 2015 becoming the sixth generation of funeral directors. Jake has now been a funeral director for many years and is married to wife, Angélica.

Tim shared that growing up and following in funeral service is interesting and different. You understand that true service is not something you learn in class or training. It is something that you must recognize as a responsibility to the community that has been your family’s home, for 125 years. Often, the people you serve you have known many years and those you first meet become your friends forever after. Our family serving your family......

04/25/2026

Smith Family History - Storyline Part 4
Now, comes generation 5, as Tim Smith joined the firm in 1985 and graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and was licensed in 1988. Then, younger brother Kevin Smith joined in 1988 and graduated from John Tyler Community College and was licensed in 1990.
The year 1999 came and the needs of the community were still changing. R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home in downtown Hampton expanded with the renovation and incorporation of the ca. 1885 Holt House. At the same time, Kevin led the renovation and creation of the Berceuse Funeral and Cremation Traditions location of the firm to provide funeral and crematory services as those needs expanded.

04/24/2026

Smith Family History - Storyline Part 3
When the funeral home was moved to Armistead Ave, caskets were still kept in the Phoebus building until it burned in 1955 and all of the funeral home business was consolidated in downtown Hampton. Robert Hayden Smith II, “Bob” graduated from William and Mary, served in the Army, and then graduated from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1962 and is still licensed today after 63 years. The funeral home grew and the Armistead Ave building was expanded in 1967 with much needed space including the 200 seat chapel. Bob is the fourth generation of Smith Family Funeral Directors.

04/23/2026

Smith Family History - Storyline Part 2
R. Hayden Smith operated at Mellen and Mallory until in 1916, when he bought the property at 205 and 207 E. Mellen that we recognized for 100 years as Smith Florist, and today as Sly Clyde Ciderworks. He moved the funeral home and the family, and gained the florist business already there. They had their home, the florist and greenhouses, and the funeral home all in one place. Hayden and Mary Elizabeth Powell raised their family there, two children, H. Clyde Smith b. 1907 and his sister Mattie Baker Smith b.1904 who both later became funeral directors and grew up mainly in Phoebus.
In 1932, on the move again, they built the R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home building where it stands today in downtown Hampton, and R. Hayden and wife Mary Elizabeth moved as well, living in the upstairs as was widely customary at the time. Mattie had become one of the first female funeral directors in Virginia but tragically became sick and died in 1940 at the age of 36.
H. Clyde Smith married Gertrude Brockley and they lived in the Phoebus home raising their children Robert Hayden Smith II and his sister Virginia. Mattie and H. Clyde were third generation funeral directors in the Smith Family.

04/22/2026

Smith Family History - Storyline Part 1
In 1836 William Morriss Smith was born in New Kent on the family farm in an area called Windsor Shades and learned the trade of wheelwright and blacksmith. He enlisted in the 53rd Virginia Infantry, Tomlin’s Division, Barhamsville Greys during the Civil War. Having been a wheelwright and blacksmith, he was designated the brigade wheelwright towards the end of the war.
William married Emma Susan Rouse (aka: Susan Emma) of New Kent in 1872. (Interesting side note-one of Emma Susan’s brothers had a funeral home in Smithfield, VA.) William and Emma Susan had several children including Robert Hayden Smith b. 1879 who was frequently referred to as Hayden, James Mordecai Smith, Emma Smith and others all being born in New Kent. William brought the family to Hampton late in the1800's and they lived in the area of Lee St and Chapel St. He opened a stall on Queen St, just east of the now Hampton History Museum, where he continued his trade as wheelwright and blacksmith. His clients included the Hampton Volunteer Fire Department as is noted in his ledger book. He closed that business in late 1900.
This brings us to 1901when William and his son R. Hayden opened William M. Smith and Son Undertakers in the then one year old town of Phoebus near the corner of Mellen and Mallory (8 Mellen Street) with the first date that appears in the funeral home books as April 15, 1901. When William died August 13, 1907 it was a short time until William Smith and Son Undertakers became R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home. William is first and Hayden second generation funeral directors with the Smith Family.

04/21/2026

Celebrating 125 years of compassionate service at R. Hayden Smith Family Funeral Homes is not only a milestone—it’s a reflection of the people who carry that legacy forward each and every day.
We are especially proud to recognize three remarkable women whose dedication and heart have helped shape that legacy:
✨ Jamie Puffenberger Karpa, Funeral Director – 34 plus years
✨ Lori Puffenberger Mason, Office Coordinator – 24 years
✨ Charlotte Copeland Dillow, Funeral Director, Aftercare and Special Events Coordinator – 13 years

Together, they represent over 70 years of commitment, care, and quiet strength in guiding families through life’s most tender moments. Working at R. Hayden Smith isn’t just a job—it’s a calling. It’s showing up with compassion when words are hard to find, offering comfort when it’s needed most, and honoring lives with dignity and grace. It’s becoming part of a family that extends far beyond our walls.
Jamie, Lori and Charlotte offer heartfelt congratulations to the Smith family on 125 incredible years. It is an honor to be part of a legacy built on trust, service, and love—and to continue walking alongside the families who place that trust in us every day.

And during this Administrative Professionals Week we would be remiss if we didn't take a moment to recognize Lori Puffenberger Mason as our Office Manager who keeps things running smoothly everyday for us, thank you Lori for all you do!

Address

245 S Armistead Avenue
Hampton, VA
23669

Telephone

+17577233191

Website

http://www.rhaydensmith.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when R Hayden Smith Funeral Home and Cremation Services posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to R Hayden Smith Funeral Home and Cremation Services:

Shortcuts

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Hampton?