David Smith

I, David W. Smith, the eldest son of Clara S. Brooks, was born on February 11, 1958, in Pineville, Louisiana.

I was baptized at the age of seven (7) by the late Rev. G.C Jacob, and my grandfather, the late Rev. George, Smith Sr. on April 18, 1965, which just so happened to be Easter Sunday.

My baptism took place at the "Old" Mt. Zion, which was located at North 8th Street.

I began my education experience at Reed Avenue Elementary, and later attended Rosenthal Elementary, Alexandria Jr. High School, and Jones Street, Jr. High School.

I attended Peabody High School beginning in 1972, graduating in 1976, which was the year for Peabody becoming a Magnet Program.

I went on to attend Grambling State University from 1976-1980. While at Grambling, my conversion took place.

If you knew my family, then you also knew that going to church was never an option. Well, I vowed that when I got out of the house, I would never go to church again.

Once I got to Grambling, I saw my opportunity to follow through with my vow. The first Sunday I missed was alright, I got to see the New Orleans Saints kickoff the game. However, as time passed, Sundays did not feel like Sundays. Something was missing.

So, I went to a Catholic Church, because they do not hold you long. Thirty to Forty-Five minutes tops, and you were gone, but that did not feel right either.

The next Sunday, I decided to go to a Baptist Church, closer to campus (New Rocky Valley Baptist Church. I attended New Rocky Valley one Sunday, well needless to say that was it. New Rocky Valley Baptist Church was the church that many Administrators and Professors attended, so they were quiet in church.

I made the mistake of saying "Amen", one too many times before I got the message that I was completely out of order.

Well, on my quest to find the familiarity of home, I finally ended up at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, in Grambling, Louisiana.

That Mt. Zion reminded me of the one I left. It was a church where everybody is somebody. It was a church where the Spirit of the Lord ran freely, and where everyone praised the Lord. Proverbs 22:6 is true, when it states, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

During my time at Grambling State University, I earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing, while Minoring in Accounting.

Upon graduation from Grambling, I was an Operations Manager at Green's Department Store in the Alexandria Mall from 1980 until 1985.

In 1985, I began working in the car industry with LeGlue Buick & Volkswagen. While at LeGlue, I became a Buick Sales Master, so in 1998, I left LeGlue when the Buick portion was sold to Turpin, and I remained at Turpin until September 2004, when I moved to Walker Automotive.

I was employed at Walker from 2004 until 2019.

Soon after I graduated from college, my service in the church that I called home began. I served in many capacities such as the Assistant Superintendent of Sunday School, a Van Driver, Assistant Finance Chairman, Sunday School Teacher, Sick & Shut Ministry, Transportation Chairman, Fundraising Chairman, Trustee Board Member, and the Chairman of the Deacon Board.

I remained the Chairman of Deacon Board until my transition.

On Friday, February 12, 2021 at 7:24 a.m., one day after my 63rd birthday, I, David W. Smith, took my last breath.

I was preceded in death by his grandfather and grandmother, Rev. George and Margaret W. Smith, whom I loved dearly, along with many aunts, uncles and cousins.

I leave to mourn my memory, my girlfriend/wife for the last 41 years, Carolyn A. Smith My beloved mother, Clara S. Brooks; my loving mother-in-law Rachel Allen; my brother, my right hand, Ronnie Brooks (Vernilla), and my baby sister, Benetrus Brooks; two godchildren, (Kasha Easley) and Shaun'Tori Tolbert (Clydeisha), and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and special friends.

On Saturday, February 27, 2021, A service celebrating my life and my legacy will be held at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 11-16th & Day Streets, Alexandria, LA 71301.

Public Viewing will begin at 8:00 a.m. and continue until 10:00 a.m.

At the 10 o' clock hour an Omega service will be held in my honor.

My Homegoing Celebration will begin promptly at 11:00 a.m.

Immediately following the services, I will be laid to rest in the Garden of Memories Cemetery.

~Please keep my loved ones in prayer