Samuel Elijah Smith Sr.

Samuel Eligah Smith was born on January 20, 1945 to the late Eligah and Elethia Bosier-Smith in Manning, South Carolina. He made his transition from this life on Saturday, August 29, 2020. Samuel joined Eastern United Methodist Church of Baltimore, Maryland at a young age. He attended high school at Baltimore City College. After high school, he received his bachelor’s degree from Morgan State College in Political Science and became a member of the Army ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps). The leadership training and experience that he gained in ROTC provided him with a foundation to become a commissioned Army Officer. He also served as a Military Police during his tour of duty in the Vietnam War. He served a total of 28 years and retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Samuel attended Coppin State College where he earned a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice. In 1978, Samuel began his distinguished career in Criminal Justice with the Maryland Division of Parole and Probation as a Parole Officer and was soon promoted to Management Analyst. Samuel met his wife of 38 years, Joan Diana Wynder of Baltimore, Maryland. They were married on June 26, 1982. They moved to Georgia following a corporate transfer of his wife Joan. On April 16, 1986. Samuel was welcomed to the ranks of the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles as a Parole Officer and was later promoted to Parole Board Hearing Examiner. Samuel and Joan joined Union Chapel United Methodist Church in 1986, where he served as an active member until his illness. He served faithfully in the church on both the District and the Local church level. He served as a District Lay Delegate, Administrative Council Chairperson, Member of the Staff-Parish Relations Committee, President of United Methodist Men, Lay Leader, Certified Lay Speaker and sang in the Men’s Choir. Samuel was also very active in the community serving as a volunteer on the Board of Must Ministries and as Treasurer for the Georgia Chapter of Morgan State University. He served as member of the Morgan State Alumni Chapter of the Pershing Rifles Fraternal Organization. During his spare time Samuel loved to go fishing. This was his favorite past-time where he would often steal away right after a hard day of work just to experience the calmness and serenity that it brought as he sat around the lake. Samuel was preceded in death by his son, Sean Emmanuel Smith; step-son, Joseph Antonio Carrington; brother, Alonzo Owens, and sister, Sally Mills. He leaves to cherish his memories a loving and devoted wife, Joan Smith; son, Samuel E. Smith, Jr. (Sharon Rosber); daughter, Mrs. Sharon Oliver (Derrick); step-daughter, Mrs. Tracy White (Jeffery) of Baltimore, MD; three sisters, Regina Wells, Joanne Brown and Freda Anderson of Florida ; two brothers, Frederick Owens of Florida and Kenneth Smith of Maryland; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren, three aunts, Vashti Redcross, Vivian Bosier, and Flo Bosier; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. 

The family will welcome guests for the  visitation on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 from 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Greener Pastures Funeral Home, 4405 Marietta St. Powder Springs, GA 30127.

The funeral  services will take place the following day on Wednesday, September 9, 2020 for 11:00 AM at Greener Pastures Funeral Home, 4405 Marietta St. Powder Springs, GA 30127.

Interment will be held at Georgia National Cemetery, 1080 Scott Hudgens Dr, Canton, GA 30114. (Only 10 people are allowed to go to the National Graveside)

Funeral Services will be live-streamed. The live stream can be viewed below or by clicking the link below. The camera will activate 10 minutes prior to service.  

(Link Below)

https://venue.streamspot.com/dd1c5c28

To the entire Smith Family, we at Greener Pastures Funeral Home, offer to each of you our most sincere and heartfelt sympathies and condolences. Our prayers remain that your abiding faith in God will continue to comfort, to strengthen and sustain you during your time of bereavement.

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