Guffrie Matthew Smith, Sr. was born to Bertha Holley Smith and Dozie Wood on June 1, 1921, in Scotland, Maryland. The youngest of seven children, he attended both Scotland and Jarboesville Schools but left school before graduating to help support his family. He worked on his Uncle's truck farm and, as a teenager, was a busboy at the Scotland Hotel and a server in the dining hall at St. Mary’s Female Seminary.

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At the outbreak of World War II in 1942, Mr. Smith joined the United States Army. He served as a Staff Sergeant in the 92nd Infantry Division, the famed Buffalo Soldiers. The only Black U.S. infantry division deployed to Europe, they faced both fierce combat and racial discrimination yet served with distinction. By the time he was honorably discharged in 1945, he had received the World War II Victory Ribbon, Purple Heart Medal, Exemplary Service Medal, and Efficiency Honor Fidelity Medal. He survived serious battle wounds in Italy and came home to Parthenia W. Barnes whom he had married just days before leaving for the Front. They went on to live a long, happy marriage producing seventeen children, twelve girls and five boys.

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 After his discharge from the Army he went to work in the fire department at the Naval Air Station at Patuxent River and as an independent contractor driving school busses for the county school system. He worked for the Navy and school system for over forty years and had other jobs as well, but Mr. Smith had an entrepreneurial spirit and he was one of the first black owners of a Trailer Park, Laundromat and Barbershop in St. Mary's County. He attended night school at St. Mary's County Vocational Technical Center Adult Education program to improve his skills in the areas of Carpentry, Electronics, and Auto Mechanics and used these skills and talents to help others in the community. He enjoyed bus trips, and was known for volunteering his bus service to different groups and he began the Smith Charter Bus Service, offering trips for various organizations in St. Mary's, Calvert, and Charles County.

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Mr. Smith was very involved in the community. He was a member of the Maryland Council of PTAs, 4-H Club, Disable Veterans Association, Bus Contractors Association, Purple Heart Association, Joseph Egan Masonic Lodge #104, and a lifetime member of St. Mary’s County Branch of the NAACP.  He was also an advisor to the County Commissioner in the first district. He was known as a man of his word who believed in giving back to the community.

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Church activities were very important to him and became an integral part of his life and family. He was a devoted member of St. Luke United Methodist Church and held several positions including Administrative Board Chairman, Trustee; and Choir Member. He enjoyed singing and was known for his fine tenor voice.

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Guffrie Smith’s motto was "treat people the way you want to be treated", and he was known to say "if you gave your word to someone, you should keep it because your word is your bond".