I have fought the good fight.  I have finished the race.  I have kept the faith."

2 Timothy 4:7

Our beloved Husband, Father, Pa-Pa, Brother, Uncle, Cousin and Friend Earl C. Smith, Jr. transitioned to his eternal home on Tuesday, February 21, 2023.

Earl C. Smith, Jr. (Bucky) was born on March 28, 1956 to the late Earl and Elizabeth Smith.

He graduated from Patrick Henry High School in 1974, where he played JV and Varsity basketball.  Known as " Earl the Pearl" , he had a nice jump shot.  During his early years, he also played Baseball.  Earl was an avid sports fan. Football and basketball were his favorites, however, he watched tennis, golf and any other sports that happened to be on television.  He loved his favorite teams, the Boston Celtics, Minnesota Vikings, and San Francisco Giants.  Whenever friends and family visited the home, he could always tell you how his teams were performing, and even when they were not doing so good, he still was a die hard fan!

He served in the United States Army from 1974 – 1977.  Earl found employment at Best Products from 1978 – 1996, when the company closed.  He then went to work for  Quebecor Printing.  He was a very hard worker and was promoted to several management positions during his career.

Earl was blessed to find the love of his life, the former Joyce Cash in the 9 ^th grade at Patrick Henry High School.  They were high school sweethearts and married on September 23, 1978. Earl loved his wife and always placed her first.  To this union, two sons were born, TyRon and Gary.  He was a loving and devoted father to them and met and mentored several others while coaching them in various sports.  Everyone joked that all his sons knew were church, and sports!

Earl became a member of Brown Grove Baptist Church, but moved his membership to Jerusalem Baptist Church so that the family could worship together.  Earl served as an Usher and did so until his health began to fail.  Earl was diagnosed in 1996 with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) but he never complained even through many stays in the hospital.  Someone once said that Earl was the strongest man they knew.  Even through many trials and tribulations with his health, he accepted his fate and always encouraged others.  It has been said that people would visit to encourage him, and they left feeling encouraged by him and the strength he showed in the midst of adversity.

Earl was a man of quiet strength.  He was not extremely talkative, but when he spoke, people listened because he spoke with such wisdom.  He was always happy to see his sons, but when the grandchildren came, you could tell a difference in his demeanor, for they could do no wrong in his eyes.  He would correct them with such love and admiration!

He leaves to cherish his memory, his devoted and caring wife of forty-four years, Joyce, his loving sons, TyRon (Jennifer), and Gary (Candice), three grandchildren, Kailyn, Bryson, and Kelsie who were the apple of his eye, two sisters, Diane Drake (James), Karen Tinsley (Reginald), one brother, Michael, one uncle Cyrus Walker (Darlene), two aunts, Josephine Jackson and Mae Walker along with a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends, including five devoted friends, James Toliver, Eugene Mickens, Malcolm King , Bill Thomas and Avery Hilliard, a devoted and caring neighbor, Alma (Tish) Winston, and a devoted and loving friend, Elyse L. Shakur.