Elder Lonnie Lee Smith Jr.

Mr. Lonnie Lee Smith, Jr. was born June 3, 1937, in Little Washington, NC to the late Hosanna and Lonnie Smith, Sr. His education was in the Beaufort County school system. After a brief severe illness, Lonnie exchanged time for eternity on October 5, 2023. Lonnie retired from Suburban Propane in Mahwah, NJ. He relocated to NC to spend the rest of his days in retirement mode. He loved working on the farm and gathering fruit and vegetables that some of you have enjoyed. Lonnie was a very active member of Faith Soul Saving Station where the church started in his living room and when it became overcrowded it moved to the basement. He became chair of the deacon board and served faithfully for 30+ years and in NC he received his Elders license. He and his wife would go to the rest homes and prisons preaching and proclaiming Jesus. Each one of his children was made to do something in the musical field. Kemmette was made to learn to play the base guitar, Joseph was made to play the saxophone and Sherry was made to take piano lessons. Lonnie loved to sing in the convocation choir in Harlem NY under the careful eye and tutelage of Mattie Moss Clark. This was under the founding father Bishop Jessie Winley. Lonnie served at Faith Soul Saving Station for over 30 years. Church was his life. He took pride in being the deacon, he was always the first to arrive at the church and the last to leave. Lonnie loved to lead song service singing songs such as Isn’t he wonderful and Get Right with God. He made sure his children knew every hymn in the hymn book and knew how to call on God for themselves. We were anointed with oil and sent to school every day. Lonnie was proud to do the Lord’s work. When Lonnie moved to NC, he began looking for a church home. He visited many and connected with Gateway Church Ministries in Winterville, NC. He remained until his health started to decline. Lonnie loved his wife, children, and grandchildren. He had special names for them. He would always call Jillian “Judy” (he loved to watch Judge Judy), and Jeremiah “Pumpkin,” and Jewell “sweet baby.” Left to cherish his memories are his wife, Theola Smith; four children, Kemmette Smith (Debbie) of NJ, Joseph Smith (Carol) of NJ, Sherry Walker (Tim) of NC, and Shauneille Smith of TX; three grandchildren, Jeremiah Walker of Atlanta GA, Jillian of Alabama State, Jewell, of NJ; his nieces and nephews. The Jenkins and The Smith Family. He now joins his parents and some of his siblings: He told all of them You must be born again. We can only imagine what a reunion this will be.

Tributes

Elder Lonnie Lee Smith Jr.

June 3, 1937 - October 5, 2023