Gerald Smith

Gerald Smith

Funeral services for Reverend Gerald Smith, of Dublin, will be held on Thursday, May 9, at 1 PM at the Samuel Grove Baptist Church, 11651 GA Hwy 68 in Tennille, Georgia. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Reverend Winfred L. McCloud will officiate.

Reverend Smith, who passed away on Sunday, May 5, was born on December 3, 1955, in Tennille to the late Reverend Eddie Clarence and Willie Mae Smith. He graduated from Washington County High School in 1974, and later attended the University of Georgia in Athens. He retired from Engelhard Corporation of Sandersville after twenty-five years of service. He also worked with the Department of Labor as a Mine Safety and Health Inspector until his illness.

On April 10, 1977 he married Joyce Elaine Strange, the daughter of Willie Clarence and Inez Strange of Toomsboro, and this union was blessed with three children.

He began his gospel ministry at the early age of nineteen in 1975, and he served many congregations including Chauncey Chapel Baptist Church, James Grove Baptist Church, Brown Chapel Baptist Church, First Baptist Church of Wadley, Rountree Island Baptist Church, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Turkey Creek Baptist Church, and Buckeye Baptist Church. He was most recently called as the Pastor of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church of Wrightsville.

Reverend Smith leaves to cherish and honor his memory a loving wife, Joyce Smith; one son, Anthony J. (Erica) Smith of Macon; two daughters, Cassandra M. (Vonzet) Greer of Snellville, and Christina R. Smith of Dallas, Texas; brothers, Calvin (Agnes) Smith of New Market, Alabama, Reverend Eddie Dean Smith of East Dublin, William Smith of Atlanta, Tony Smith of Macon, Gregory (Roberta) Goodson, Jeffery (Mary) Goodson, and Russell Goodson, all of Dublin; sisters, Shirley (James) Hines of Wrightsville, Dianne Smith of Tennille, and Cheryl Goodson of South Carolina; a devoted mother-in-law, Inez Strange; sisters-in-law, Sara Daniels of Atlanta, Dorothy (Leroy) Hurst and Vickie (Otis) Hill of Toomsboro, Edna (Willie Fred) Adams of Tennille, Frances (James) Shinholster of Gordon, and Marjorie Smith of Macon; brother-in-law, Morris Strange of Toomsboro; grandchildren, Jalen Anthony Smith, Da’Aliyah Marshay Johnson, Cameron Pearl Greer, Harrison Gerald Greer; and a great niece, Ji’Layha Irene Wright; godchildren, Peggy O’Neal, Jasmine O’Neal, Fredrick (Mikita) Fordham, Olivia Hill, and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family and friends.

The family will receive friends at 820 Point West Loop in Dublin.

Services by Dudley Funeral Home of Dublin
Post condolences at www.ServicesByDudley.com.