John W. Smith was born on January 2, 1923, to the late Robert and Ella Smith in Lowndes County, Alabama. He was educated in the public-school system in Lowndes County, Alabama.

John confessed Christ at an early age and joined Shiloh Baptist Church in Gordonville, Alabama. John left Alabama and journeyed to Cleveland, Ohio. Upon arrival, he was employed by Gravel Manufacturing Company and later employed by American Bronze. He worked for over fifty years as a real estate salesman, and many of those years were spent working for McMullan Realty. He took tremendous pride in selling homes to buyers.

In 1946, John was drafted into the United States Army. He was assigned to the Fire Department in Seoul Korea.

John united with Shiloh Baptist Church in Cleveland in the early 1950s. He sang with the A. Henson Jarmon Choir, the Male Choir, and the Gospel Choir. He was the Chairman of the Building and Capital Improvement Fund as well as a member of the Prayer Band. John really enjoyed all things involving his service in the Shiloh Baptist Church Community.

In 1956 John was joined in holy matrimony to Hattie Smith. From that union, two children were born, Thalia and Ouimet. A loving and blended family was also the result of that union, as Hattie was step-mother to Judy Worlds of Camden, New Jersey, and John T. Smith of Birmingham, Alabama (November 5, 1949 – May 26, 2016).

John was an avid sports fan. He enjoyed football, basketball, and baseball. John showed love for all the Cleveland sports teams and loved to play the card game Bid Whist with family and friends.

John departed this life on January 14, 2021. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Ella Smith; step-mother, Rachel Smith; son, John T. Smith; four sisters and two brothers.

John leaves to cherish his memory, his beloved children and grandchildren, daughter, Judy Worlds (Cornell Worlds, deceased), their children, Cornell Worlds Jr. and Maya Worlds, daughter, Thalia Smith, her daughter, Chevon Naylor, son, Ouimet Smith (Yvette), their son, Kellon Smith, daughter-in-law, Darphine Smith (wife of John T. Smith), their children, LaWanda Dudley, Dalphone Shantee’ Smith, KaRita (Ben) Sullen, TyRhonda Smith; thirteen great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends whom he dearly loved.

John was a classy gentleman. He had compassion and was a caring person to all who knew him. He will be greatly missed by all who loved him and had the pleasure of knowing him.