Reverend Fred Lewis Smith, a beacon of faith and gentleness, was called home to glory on the 21st of September, 2024. Born on the 12th of July, 1949, in the warm and welcoming town of Florence, Alabama, he was a spirited soul who walked in the light of the Lord from his first breath to his last.
Raised amidst the verdant beauty of Florence, Reverend Smith was a product of Burrell Slater High School, from which he graduated with a heart full of dreams and a spirit committed to service. It was in these formative years that he found his calling to minister to the hearts of men and women, a calling he followed with unwavering dedication.
Reverend Smith’s life was a testament to his faith-filled journey. As the Founder and Pastor of the New Salem Missionary Baptist Church of Florence, Alabama, he shepherded his flock with a gentle hand and a fierce passion for the Gospel. His sermons were as much a part of the town’s fabric as the Alabama river that flowed through it, nurturing the community with words of wisdom, hope, and love.
He was a family man, deeply cherished by his son, Marcus (Nikki) Weakley of Florence, AL, and his grandson, Blake Jones of Decatur, AL. His sister, Ann White of Madison, AL, and his brother, Chester Smith of Florence, AL, shared in the light of his love and guidance. Reverend Smith also found kinship in his special friend and fellow servant of God, Rev. Frederick Rowlett of Florence, AL. Together, they walked a path of friendship and faith that inspired all who knew them.
Reverend Smith’s legacy is further carried on by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and innumerable friends whose lives he touched with his boundless energy and compassionate spirit. Each one can attest to the powerful impact of his presence, a presence that could fill a room with joy and hearts with the Holy Spirit.
As we gather to celebrate his homegoing, we are reminded that Reverend Fred Lewis Smith was a man who lived by the Word and loved by the heart. His departure from this earth was as graceful as his life, with his final moments spent at Helen Keller Hospital, surrounded by the land and people he so dearly loved.
In the quiet moments, we can almost hear his voice, echoing through the sanctuary, reminding us to live with love, to lead with kindness, and to always keep the faith. And so, as we bid farewell to this servant of God, we do so with the assurance that his spirit will forever be woven into the tapestry of our lives, an everlasting thread in the quilt of our community.
Rest well, Reverend Smith, until we meet again at Jesus’ feet.
