Lawrence Smith Jr. Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

“Your dad was my father figure when I was a kid. He taught me how to tie my shoes, how to tie my first real tie, and about shaving. I’m so sorry for your loss.” (Charles Edward Wheeler- (neighbor) On Saturday morning, August 31st, 2019, Mr. Lawrence Smith, Jr. departed this life at Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital in Sumter, SC. He was formerly married to the late Ruth Wilson Smith and to this union two children were born. Mr. Smith was born in Lynchburg, South Carolina on November 17th, 1937 and was the son of the late Lawrence Smith, Sr. and Adelle Solomon Smith. He attended Lee County, South Carolina public schools and was employed by Santee Print Works in Sumter from which he, retired after 56 years of dedicated service. Mr. Smith was a faithful member of St. Mark United Methodist Church in Mayesville, SC; he was very active and served in many capacities to include: Finance Chairperson, Lay leader, and Church Trustee. Mr. Smith was the secretary and trustee for the Mayesville Community Cemetery. He maintained and held these positions even during his illness . Mr. Smith was a huge baseball fan and especially liked the Atlanta Braves. He was also a gifted mathematician and tutored many students in the community. Mr. Smith loved his family and was a devoted husband and father. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by eleven siblings. Survivors include his son, Kenneth Jeroide Smith, and daughter, Selena Ruth Smith; two brothers, Robert Smith of Landover, Maryland, and Joe (Janice) Smith of Monroe, North Carolina; three sisters, Naomi Toney of Mayesville, Bessie Commander of Sumter, and Jessie Mae (William) Nedd of Washington, DC; two special nieces, Hattie Wilson, Mayesville, SC and Joyce Commander, Sumter, SC; in-laws. Harry Wilson, Philadelphia, PA, and Deborah Johnson, Washington, DC; a special friend, Emmie Driggers, Sumter, SC, and longtime friend, Barbara Ann Wheeler, Mayesville, SC, and a host of other relatives. “I will truly miss your dad. He was a gentle and kind person. One thing about him, whenever you saw him he was always nice. Come to think, I never saw him angry or ever heard him say anything unkind or unpleasant to anyone. I’m just so happy to say that I am blessed to have known Mr. Smith .” (Glenda Spann Hinnant- church member).

Lawrence Smith Jr.

November 17, 1937 - August 31, 2019