A CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR ANTWANE “BIG DAWG” SMITH

Antwane Smith was born in Cleveland, Ohio on May 2, 1984, to the late Horace Phillips and Wanda Smith.

He discovered his faith and accepted Christ early on getting baptized at the Everlasting Missionary Baptist Church in 1990 at the age of six. Antwane disliked being assigned solos in the kids’ choir but enjoyed attending Sunday school and VBS with all his neighborhood friends. He loved listening to gospel music, and as he got older, he became more consistent with reading his Bible app. So many of his friends have told stories of how they were introduced to the church because Antwane invited them.

Antwane attended Cleveland Public Schools, and he was a proud graduate of Glenville High School in 2002. He would yell it loud and proud that he was a Tarblooder. To the point that his favorite colors were red and black.

Antwane started his early years doing different odd jobs, but he fell in love with driving a tow motor. He would always say that he was the “Coldest Whippin It”! He even went on to complete the Cleveland Builds Apprenticeship Readiness Program. The Cleveland Clinic structure on 89th & Chester, he was part of the Site Preparation Team that prepared the ground for the foundation of the building. Antwane had several factory jobs, but he finally settled in as Lead Chemical Operator at PCC AirFoils.

Antwane had a passion for life & always carried a positive attitude everywhere he went. He had a huge heart and welcomed everyone with open arms. You never had to wonder if Antwane was around because his loud obnoxious laugh would let you know! He had a love for music, especially R&B, playing cards and dominoes. Antwane was constantly surrounded by love and grew up “hooping”, laughing, and ranking with his sister Wan and his cousins that were his other brothers and sisters. He loved wrestling with his sons, family time and watching cooking shows. He was a true sports fan especially when it came to Cleveland teams. Win, lose or draw he was going to cheer the loudest. But the activity that he grew to love the most was playing his video game.

Antwane met Erika in 1998, and they shared a love that began in Jr. High School. Together they welcomed their daughter, Amaiyah in 2005. During a period when they were apart, he welcomed his daughter, Malaysia Ogletree with Latoya Ogletree in 2007. They reunited in 2015 and together continued building the life they had always dreamed of. They were married in 2020 and welcomed two sons, Antwane Jr. in 2018 and Ashton in 2021. Their journey together was a testament to enduring love, resilience and the joy of raising a family.

The measure of Antwane’s life will never be found in the number of years he lived, but in the lives he touched. He leaves a legacy of unconditional love in his wife Erika, his children, Amaiyah, Malaysia, Antwane Jr. and Ashton. His mother Wanda Smith, sister Wan Smith, Aunts; Menley Taylor and Rita Harris. Uncles Robert L. Smith Jr. (Robin), Frederick Phillips, and Lavelle Smith. Mother-in-law Valleslie McClarin, Sister-in-law Norashunta Jackson. nephew Elijah Hickerson, niece Elnora Jackson, The Saywell Best Friends and a host of cousins, friends, family & extended family. Every shared memory, every lesson, and every act of love will ensure that he is never truly gone.

In Honor of Antwane, the family asks that all those who will be attending Antwane’s Celebration of Life, wear Black and Red