The Lord is My Shepherd I shall not want.

Psalms 23:1

On Friday August 11, 2023, God looked down from Heaven and picked from his garden Deacon Emeritus Burton S. Smith, Jr. He was born one of two children to the late Burton and Victoria Smith Arnold on December 30, 1934, in Hanover County. Often called Bud, Uncle Bud, Uncle Burton, the Mayor of Pine Hill, Papa, and Big Papa.

Deacon Smith graduated from John M. Gandy High School. He attended Howard University, and graduated from Evans Smith Leadership Institute where he received a certificate in Religious Studies. Prior to his retirement, Deacon Smith worked for Steel Services Inc. and Fearnows Cannery for a combined 37 years. Some of his other accomplishments include being a member of First Union Baptist Church for 75 years, where he served with the Deacon Ministry, in the choir, as an usher, in the Christian Education Ministry, in the Stewardship Ministry, and as Superintendent of Church School.

Deacon Smith was also well known in the community. Some of his activities in the community consisted of membership in the NAACP, Civic Association of Hanover, Advisory Council of the Capital Area Agency on Aging of Richmond, a volunteer with Meals on Wheels, President of the CBA Division of Men, President of CBA Deacons Conference, President of the Council on Aging for Hanover County, member of the Advisory Council of Senior Connection Richmond, President of the United Christian Ushers Union of Mechanicsville, President of Hanover County Sunday School Union, Vice Regional President of the Virginia State Deacons Conference, and past Master of Carey Wheaton Lodge #307. In 2014, Deacon Smith was honored to attend a White House State Dinner given by President and Mrs. Obama welcoming the President of France.

On June 2, 1954, Deacon Smith married the love of his life, the former Ms. Zanderine Bagby, and from this union two sons were born, Burton Smith, III and Keith Smith.

Deacon Smith leaves behind to cherish his memories his wife Zanderine of 69 years; two sons Burton and Keith Smith; one daughter-in-law Ruth Smith; two grandsons Cedric and Adrian Smith; two great grandsons Sean and Maddox Smith; one brother Ulysses Smith; one sister Marion Adkins; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.