R.T. “Rod” Smith died on Dec. 22, 2024, at his home in Rockbridge County.

A widely-published poet, short story writer, and essayist, Rod was for almost two decades the editor of Shenandoah, the literary journal at Washington and LeeUniversity. Under Rod’s leadership, Shenandoah became one of the most highly respected literary publications in the country, and Rod’s many awards for his poetry, fiction, and editorial work are too numerous to list.

Alexandra Brown, Rod’s longtime colleague, introduced his final reading with the statement that Rod’s work “made me care about the story, the characters, and pointed to things I suddenly knew mattered beyond the page.” 

As all who knew him will testify, Rod’s life was his work, and his contribution to the literature of the American South and to the many students he taught and mentored cannot be overestimated. One of those students, Henry Wise, now a novelist and professor at VMI, captures the complexity of Rod Smith in his recollection of Rod’s “gentle nature, devotion to literature, encyclopedic knowledge, and canny wit.”

Rod Smith is survived by his wife, Sarah Kennedy, and his sister, Sharon Smith Berman. 

At his request, there will be no formal service, but all are invited to make a donation in his name to one of the following organizations: the Cold Mountain Review at Appalachian State University, the American Cancer Society, or the Parkinson’s Foundation.