Samuel Casey Highsmith

Samuel Casey Highsmith was born on March 30th , 1945 in Richland, Washington to M. Fuller Highsmith and Kathleen Casey Highsmith.

 Shortly after, the family returned to Batesville, Arkansas, where Sam was raised. He started his education in the Batesville public school system and transferred to McCallie Boarding School where he graduated high school in 1963. Sam then attended Southwestern College (now Rhodes) in Memphis, Tennessee, where he graduated with his bachelor’s degree in 1967.

He continued his education at Emory Law School in Atlanta, earning his Juris Doctorate in 1971. Sam returned to Batesville and began practicing law at the Highsmith, Greg, Hart, and Farris law firm. At the same time, he served as a deputy prosecuting attorney for Stone County, Arkansas. From practicing law, he moved on to working with Batesville Truck Line. After his time with BTL, he began working in the development field for Lyon College, WestArk Community College (now University of Arkansas, Fort Smith), the Boys and Girls Ranches of Arkansas, Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Homes, and the American Cancer Society.

Dedicated to a life of service, Sam served as a District Governor of Rotary, where he received the Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary. He was President of the State Chamber of Commerce of Arkansas and the Arkansas Trucking Association. Born and raised Presbyterian, Sam served as a session member at First Presbyterian Church, Batesville, and First Presbyterian Church, Fort Smith. He served multiple terms as the Stated Clerk of Session at Second Presbyterian Church, Little Rock. Along with his dedication and service to individual congregations, Sam also served as the Moderator of the Presbytery of Arkansas as well as on the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of the Sun. 

His loving wife of 30 years, Marian Beth Highsmith, and his children Cameron Highsmith (girlfriend Lauren), Kathleen Lee (husband John Robert), and Sheena Richmond (husband Tyler) are left to celebrate his life and legacy with the world. Along with his children, he had seven grandchildren, Matti, Nano, Chloe, Samuel, Maisie, Beckett, and Elizabeth. Beth’s children, Sylvia Betts, Suzanne Bennett, and David Clark, along with their children and grandchildren, join the family in love and care for Sam.

In place of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of Sam be made to Presbyterian Village in Little Rock or the Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Family Services in Monticello, AR.