Pastor Henry Clay Smith

Pastor Henry Clay Smith D.D. transitioned from this life Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at the Cartwright Care Center at the age of 82 years. He was born November 26, 1929 in Kemper County, MS, the son of the late Johnnie Taylor and Beatrice (Tingle) Smith. Pastor Smith was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was employed at the Grey Iron Foundry and was a member of the U.A.W. Local 668. Pastor Smith served at Second Baptist Church in Dowagiac, MI for 32 1/2 years. Upon retiring in 2004, he was elevated to Pastor Emeritus. He also served as Interim Pastor at Shiloh MBS in Carrollton. Pastor Smith served as Associate Minister at Corinthian MBC under the leadership of Rev. Roy L. Manning, Sr. He worked in the Dowagiac Community on the Dowagiac Union School Board of Education, the Dowagiac Rotary Club Chaplain, the Hospital Foundation, Police Dept. Chaplain, Board of Review, NAACP President, President of Dowagiac Ministerial Alliance, and the Cass County United Way Board of Directors. He worked in the Chain Lake District Association, the Wolverine State Baptist Association and the Saginaw Valley Baptist District Association. His memory will be cherished by his wife of 37 years, “Jean O”; daughter, Deidreia W. (Andrew); grandchildren, Hayli Reese-Jean, Julian and Nicole Mair; daughter #2, Barbara (Donald) Nash; 2 sisters, Leodia Powell and Thelma Nichols; one brother, Clois (Idella) Smith; 2 aunts, Florine Fisher and Annie Mae Smith; godchildren, Sydney Kaplan, Alberta Pruitt, Rodney Rimpson, Leslie “Faye Faye” Edwards and LaShonda Lindsey; 3 sisters-in-law, Ruth Smith, Barbara Davis and Marie (William) Goines; 2 brothers-in-law, Vincent and Paul Davis; children he raised, Emmitt, Milton and Larry Jones, Mildred Ann Bailey, Carolyn Murray and Ronnie Payton; special Mississippi cousin, Rev. John Nichols, nieces and nephews, Darwin Nichols, Hollistine (Aloyious) Holston, Jimmie, Jr. (Katrina) Nichols, Delphine (Michael) Green, Dwayne Nichols, Clois (Kristina) Bell, Stefan Powell, Stephanie (Delaney) Powell-Evans, Sheldon (Faye) Powell, Candace (Ronald) Harrison, Christopher (Suzanne) Smith, Gregory Simmons, Jamie Simmons-Allen, Fela Riley, Ares, Arik (Jeanelle) and Athena Smith; sons and grandson in the ministry, Pastors Bryant (Monica) Bacon, K. Morris (Jerri) Gavin, Fred (Frankie) Alexander, K. Russell (Cindy) Haines; also a host of other relatives and friends, including a special friend, Roosevelt Jones. Pastor Smith was preceded in death by his brothers, Johnnie Albert, Raymond and Johnie D. Smith; and sisters, Viola Smith, Hazel Woodhouse and Velma Bell. Family hour will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, November 9, 2012 at Corinthian Baptist Church, 104 S. 10th Street, with the funeral commencing at 11:00 a.m. Pastor Roy L. Manning will officiate with interment in Eastlawn Memorial Gardens. Friends may call at the Evans & Browne's Funeral Home, 441 N. Jefferson Ave., on Thursday, November 8th, from 2:00 until 8:00 p.m.

Pastor Henry Clay Smith

November 26, 1929 - October 30, 2012