Willie began his life journey on August 23^rd, 1928. The son of Willis and Lula Smith and the brother of Jimmy, Arthur Mae, Eula Mae Green, Minnie Dawson and Gladys Henderson, all preceded him in death.

As a young boy he worked in the cotton fields of Bundrige, Alabama alongside of his parents, siblings and other family members. In his teenage years he relocated to Florida, where he worked on the railroad for a short time before migrating to Ohio to live with his brother, Jimmy, and sister-in-love Lola Mae. They both welcomed him with open arms. Lola Mae treated him as if he was her biological little brother and he never wanted for anything.

He later set out on his own and married Ozie B. Peterson (deceased) and joined the U.S. Army. One son came from this union (Willie Jr.).

Although he only had a 7^th grade education, he lived as though he had a Master’s Degree in every art of life. He enlisted as a private in the United States Army in 1952 and later was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in 1954, after fighting on the front lines of the Korean War. He received the United National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service ribbon and one Bronze Service Star.

After being discharged from the Army, he found employment with General Motor Auto, Parma (UAW) as a certified mechanic until he retired after 37 years of loyal service. During that time he married Mary Lee Austin (deceased) and continued to raise a family.

Willie was a devoted man of God. He served on the Deacon Board at Community Christian Church (Pastor Alan D. Banks). He loved to read the word of God faithfully and sometimes he would breakout with an old gospel hymn. He often visited the sick and shut-in and would bring their family members to visit. If you needed anything, he was always there, you never had to ask. If he saw the need, he would setup immediately and fulfilled the need. Willie was a reliable person that could be depended on. Most would say he was a God send, but he was only doing what was required of him as a man and a servant of God.

Family member would call him Mr. Fixit – he repaired cars, homes, and sometimes your life problems. You could always come to the house for a good meal or just some plain old conversation. He loved to grill and make his specialty sauce for ribs that had you lickin’ your fingers. Family was the world to him – “there’s nothing like family”, he would say. He had two very, very special people in his life: Arlene Greenlee and Ruby Valentine (both preceded him in death).

Willie was loved by many, and he leaves to cherish his memory and legacy; 5 children – Willie Jr. (Henrietta), Christine Lamb, George Raymond, Deborah Jackson and Omar (Benita); 10 grandchildren, and a large number of great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and one special nephew known as the “Midnight Caller”, Enorris Smith Sr.

My journey has not ended, for God has set me on a new path after life. I will never say good-bye for I hope to see you later.