- Date Of Birth: April 25, 1919
- Date Of Death: November 7, 2013
- State: California
Mr. Smith peacefully passed away at a local hospital.
Viewing is Wednesday, November 20th from 5:00PM-8:00PM at the Mortuary.
LINDSEY SMITH, JR. was born on April 25, 1919 in Albany, Georgia. He was the third of five children born to the union of Lindsey Smith, Sr. and Lubertha Tarver Smith. Lindsey passed away at the age of ninety-four. He was the last surviving child of this union.
Lindsey accepted Christ in his life at an early age and attended school in Albany, Georgia. In Lindsey’s eagerness to serve his country, he enlisted into the United States Navy in 1936 at an early age.
Lindsey met the love of his life, Florence Marguerite Smith, and they were united in marriage on May 24, 1943 in Texarkana, Arkansas. Lindsey and his bride later moved to San Diego, California.
Lindsey was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He diligently worked long hours to provide a good living for his children; taking on two jobs while his wife cared for his children at home. He constantly instilled economic and Christian values in his children with the purpose of having them become self-sufficient. After the death of his wife, whom Lindsey dutifully cared for until her passing in 1996, he continued the family traditions of cooking holiday and Sunday meals until his health began to decline at the age of ninety-two.
While serving in the United States Navy, Lindsey proudly defended his country. He was stationed in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 aboard the USS Phoenix when America was attacked. Miraculously, it was one of only two ships to escape out of Pearl Harbor. He went on to serve his country during the remainder of WWII and throughout the Korean War.
Lindsey’s hobbies included fishing, cooking family meals, preparing his secret BBQ sauce and cooking ribs on his brick barbeque pit in the back yard. He also enjoyed gardening and sold his prize-winning, famous collard greens to others in the neighborhood.
Highlights of Lindsey’s “Ninety-Four” years of living were hearing Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. deliver his “I Have A Dream” speech; seeing man walk on the moon; and witnessing the first African American President sworn into office as the President of the United States, something he thought he would never see in his lifetime. He cried, he smiled and was proud to be able to witness such a meaningful event in his lifetime.
On November 7, 2013, Lindsey’s earthly journey was completed and he passed away peacefully surrounded by his children to be with his Master. Preceding him in death was his wife Florence, his children Lindsey III, Ralph Eugene, Frank Reginald and Sharon Yvette; his grandchildren, Angela Denise, Keascha Kanada, and Clifton Louis. Jr.
He leaves to mourn his passing his four adoring daughters, Gwendolyn Gibson of San Jose, CA,; Janice (John) Sanders of Los Angeles, CA, Jeannette (Warren) Nolan of San Diego, CA and Brenda Smith of Perris, CA; two devoted sons, Clifton L. Smith (Ret.) Lt. Colonel U.S.A.F. (Joan) of Laurel, MD and Kevin Smith of San Diego, CA; nine grandchildren, Dana, Jovial “Joy”, Jasmine, Warren Jr., Lindsey, Justin, Kimshara, Kevin G. and Kevin II; four great-grandchildren, Courtney, Reginald, Lyric and Osmin.
Today we will lay “Our Father,” Lindsey, to rest but his spirit will live on in the lives and hearts of his family as well as those who were blessed with knowing him. We are saddened by his departure but rejoice in his Homegoing.
