smbd dead but pid file exists "frustration"

[Ben Kevan]

Samba will not start on a server of mine: 

 sudo /sbin/service smb start
Starting SMB services:                                     [  OK  ]
Starting NMB services:                                     [  OK  ]

 sudo /sbin/service smb status
smbd dead but pid file exists
nmbd (pid 13503) is running...

cat smb.conf
[global]
        workgroup = global
        server string = Samba Server Version %v
        netbios name = devserver
        server string = Samba Server
        username map = /etc/samba/smbusers
        read only = No
        local master = No
        dos filetime resolution = yes

[tmp]
        path = /tmp

testparm
Load smb config files from /etc/samba/smb.conf
Processing section "[tmp]"
Loaded services file OK.
Server role: ROLE_STANDALONE

sudo /sbin/service smb stop
Shutting down SMB services:                                [FAILED]
Shutting down NMB services:                                [  OK  ]

pwd
/var/run

ll | grep smb
(nothong)

Yet.. it still will not start.. sometimes it has.. but then restarting it 
(with no changes to smb.conf) then it will not start. 

What gives?