Leon E. Smith

Leon Smith

A celebration of life and legacy for Reverend Leon E. Smith, 78, of Dublin, will be held on Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 11 AM at the First African Baptist Church, 405 Telfair Street in Dublin. Presiding Elder John Bass, Eastern District, will deliver the eulogy. A repast will immediately follow. Interment will then take place in the Willow Lake Memorial Gardens in Fort Valley.

Reverend Smith was born on September 9, 1939, to the late Reverend and Mrs. Nathaniel Smith, Sr. He began his education journey in the Bibb County school system and after relocating with his family attended and graduated from Englewood High School in Chicago, Illinois. His quest for knowledge and incessant desire for excellence led him to further his educational pursuit at Moody Bible College in Chicago, Illinois.

Reverend Smith’s passion for productivity and capacity for diversity was evident in his career endeavors in that he successfully tenured positions as a manager for Atlanta Life Insurance as well as Delta Life Insurance and later served as Supervisor for Production Plating Company in Adel, Georgia. Reverend Smith was active in the NAACP, the Ministerial Alliance, as well as a number of civic and community organizations.

Guided by loving and Godly parents, Rev. Smith accepted Christ early in life and then at the tender age of 13. While attending and serving at Mount Nebo Baptist Church, he heard and answered the call of God to go and to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ. He was licensed to preach from Mount Nebo and received his first pastoral assignment in 1959. Rev. Smith later responded to God’s call to serve the AME Church, was admitted to the Southwest Georgia Conference of the AME Church, ordained an Itinerant Elder in 1974. During that tenure Rev. Smith served with enxcellece at a number of churches in Conferences throughout the Sixth Episcopal District, retiring from active service in 2015 at the Saint Paul AME Church in Dublin. He continued to reach, preach, and teach until he responded to God’s final call. Reverend Smith entered into eternal peace on Thursday, December 7, 2017, at the Coliseum Medical Center in Macon.

Reverend Smith was preceded in death by his parents, a beautiful and beloved daughter, Erica, and brothers, Nathaniel, Clarence and Leroy.

Remaining to eternally cherish his legacy are his loving and devoted life partner and wife, Sister Cloretha Smith; loving children, Leon E. Smith, Jr., Antonio Smith (Tracy), Shirley A. Smith, Jeanette Smith (Herbert) Collins, Kathy Smith, Joyce Oakley, Kendrell Smith (Zanzeta), Philando (Mayra) Smith, Deric (EJ) Smith, Leonardo (Sameerah) Smith, brothers-in-law, Sam (Helen) Crowell, James Marks, Kenneth (Jeanet} Fisher, Charles McDowell; sisters-in-law, Gail Crowell and Brenda Crowell, as well as 27 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, and 20 great great-grandchildren.

The family will be at the church to receive friends on Saturday, December 16, at 10 AM until the funeral hour.

Please post condolences at www.ServicesByDudley.com.

Services by Dudley Funeral Home of Dublin