Leader Publications

Pastor Henry Clay Smith, D.D., 82

Born: Nov. 26, 1929

Died: Oct. 30, 2012

Pastor Henry Clay Smith, D.D., transitioned from this life Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012, at the Cartwright Care Center at the age of 82 years.

Pastor Henry Clay Smith, D.D.

He was born Nov. 26, 1929, in Kemper County, Miss., 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 U.A.W. Local 668.

Pastor Smith served at Second Baptist Church in Dowagiac 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, Barbara (Donald) Nash; two sisters, Leodia Powell and Thelma Nichols; one brother, Clois (Idella) Smith; two aunts, Florine Fisher and Annie Mae Smith; godchildren, Sydney Kaplan, Alberta Pruitt, Rodney Rimpson, Leslie “Faye Faye” Edwards and LaShonda Lindsey; three sisters-in-law, Ruth Smith, Barbara Davis and Marie (William) Goines; two 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.

Funeral services will take place 11a.m. at Corinthian MBC, 104 S. 10th St., Saginaw. Pastor Roy L. Manning, Sr. will officiate, with burial in  Eastlawn Memorial Gardens.

Friends may call at Evans and Browne’s Funeral Home, 441 N. Jefferson Ave., on Thursday from 2 until 8 p.m.

A prayer service will commence at 6 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Corinthian MBC Youth Activity Fund.