Herbert Lee Smith, son of Herbert Lee and Rebecca Welden Grier Smith, was born in Georgetown on April 29, 1889. He was educated at Winyah School, Clemson University and the University of South Carolina. He received his LL.B. degree in 1910.
He practiced law for almost a half-century in Georgetown and Andrews. He was President of the Georgetown Bar Association. He was a founder of the law firm of Smith, Moore, Flowers and Doar. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1917, he served in the American Expeditionary Force at Champagne, St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne.
He served as a State Representative, Senator and Clerk of Court. He was also Mayor of Georgetown. He was on the Board of the South Carolina State Ports Authority and Pier 31 at Georgetown is named the Herbert Smith Terminal.
A Democratic executive committeeman and delegate to the National Convention, he was also President of the Winyah Indigo Society. He was a Director of the First Federal Savings and Loan, of the Andrews Bank and Trust and the Georgetown Branch of South Carolina National Bank. He was a member of the Prince George Winyah Episcopal Church.
He married Sallye Vance and, after her death, married Mrs. Martha Benn Oliver, who survived upon his death.
Born a gentleman, his character gave him unparallelled leadership in the Bar and in the civic affairs of Georgetown. He was wise, trusted and beloved.