ST. TAMMANY PARISH, LA. 

Obituary for: SMITH, REV. THOMAS J., SR.

Submitted by: Louis Lavedan. 

Source: St. Tammany News

Published on Friday, July 2, 2010 

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SMITH

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The Rev. Thomas J. Smith Sr. departed this life Thursday, June 24, 2010, in New 
Orleans, at the age of 83. 

Born in 1926 in St. Joe, Thomas Smith endured and resisted the injustices of 
segregation and inequality from childhood and through most of his adult life. 
Experiences as a student and later a teacher in St. Tammany public schools and a 
soldier in the U.S. Army, led Smith, commonly called "T.J." by friends, to a 
life dedicated to social and racial equality.

After serving his country in the armed services stationed in the South Pacific, 
Smith enrolled in Xavier University of Louisiana and graduated in 1952 with a 
B.S. in industrial arts and a minor in English. While still in college, Smith 
was elected the first president of the newly formed NAACP-St Tammany Chapter. In 
1953, Smith worked alongside future U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall 
on the NAACP's national resolutions committee. Although the landmark Brown 
decision came just one year later, it was not until 1965 that Smith finally won 
his battle as the named plaintiff in ending St. Tammany Parish public school 
segregation. He also organized and led several boycotts of Slidell merchants in 
the late 1960s to obtain better job opportunities for minority men and women.

Known for his "razor-sharp" intelligence and wit, T.J. was an inspiring and 
energetic teacher. Starting at Chata-Ima Junior High School, in Lacombe, Smith 
later taught English and drama at George Washington Carver, John McDonough, 
McDonough 35, and Booker T. Washington Sr. High Schools, as well as Andrew J. 
Bell Junior High School.

In 1971, Smith ran for Louisiana State Superintendent of Education; placing 
third statewide. The next year, he was appointed State Director of Veterans 
Education and Training for the Louisiana Department of Education. It was during 
this period that he recognized his higher purpose in life. He accepted the call, 
was ordained in 1974, and in 1975, he was installed as pastor of Salvation 
Baptist Church in St. Joe, his home church since childhood.

While serving at Salvation, the Rev. Smith earned degrees from the Union Baptist 
Theological Seminary, Christian Bible College and New Orleans Baptist 
Theological Seminary. In 1979, he traveled to Israel to study Biblical 
archeology. He later taught and mentored many aspiring ministers at Union 
Baptist Seminary and Christian Bible College.

In 1981, he began work as a missionary for the Louisiana Baptist Convention, an 
affiliate of the Southern Baptist Convention, which led to an appointment as 
Director of the Baptist Joint Committee of Greater New Orleans, working to build 
bridges between black and white Christians. His mission work also led him to 
Ghana, Kenya and Zimbabwe.

The Rev. Smith also served as pastor of Pleasant Zion Baptist Church, founding 
pastor of First Agape Baptist Church in Central City, and at his passing, was an 
associate minister at Second Free Mission Baptist Church under the leadership of 
Dr. Warren J. Ray, Jr.

Never professing to be a perfect man, the Rev. Smith often cited King David in 
thanking his "God of another chance." He was blessed to have shared matrimony 
first with Luecrecy Harrison Smith, next with Sherry Hamilton Smith, and lastly 
with Gwendolyn Ray Smith, who cared for him through some of his greatest 
physical challenges following a debilitating stroke he suffered in 2000.

Along with his widow, Gwen, the Rev. Smith leaves to cherish his memory his 
children, T.J. Jr. (Marie), Elvin (Irmi), Dwight (Gwendolyn), Glynnis (Joseph), 
Gwendolyn (Earl), Sarita (Leon), and Kenya (Ceeon). He was preceded in death by 
his son, Roderick A. Smith. The Rev. Smith also leaves a host of grandchildren, 
great-grandchildren, and other relatives and friends whose lives he touched very 
deeply.

Services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Mt. Olive, AME Church, 2457 Second 
St., Slidell, with the Rev. Dr. Warren J. Ray officiating. Visitation will be 
held from 2-3 p.m. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to 
the Second Free Mission Baptist Church Scholarship Fund.

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