Rev. Johnnie L. Smith, Sr.

Reverend Johnnie Lee Smith, Sr., better known as “Rev” was born on July 23, 1945, in Cassatt, South Carolina, to the late Fred and Marie Shannon Smith.  He entered eternal life in the early morning on Friday, August 30, 2024.

Rev received his education at Hickman School in Cassatt, South Carolina.  He spent his early years at Job Corps as a welder.  Johnnie was employed at Otis Elevators in New York City.  He married Diane Savage in 1970.  He was married to Diane for fifty-one years before her passing in November 2021.  Later that year he became an ordained minister.

Reverend Johnnie Smith, Sr. was one of the first in Kershaw County to feed and shelter the homeless.  For the past forty years, he has had an annual Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner for the needy.  He was asked to be a torch bearer for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta for his humanitarian services in Kershaw County area.
Rev is preceded in death by six brothers, Robert, Ralph, Harold, Willie, Jimmy and Marcus and two, sisters, Ethel Mae and Mary Alice.  

Rev leaves to mourn his sad passing, a daughter, Mary Smith; a son, Johnnie “Bug” Smith, Jr.; his grandchildren, Marquis Smith, Kason Smith, Tyler Smith and Jessica Greene; nine great-grandchildren, Kayla, Shyquis, Scooter, Farran, Heaven, Londyn, Torrin, Denyne and Jrue;  his siblings, Isaac Smith of Cassatt, SC, Fred (Sybill) Smith, Jr. of Greenville, SC, Horace (Christine) smith of Virginia, Moses (Debra) Smith of Camden, SC, Ellen (Theodore) Brown of Columbia, SC, Geraldine (George) Carr of Atlanta, GA, Bennie (Della) Smith of Ohio, Eugene Smith, NY, Morris (Octavia) Smith and Mack Smith all of Albany, NY and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

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