1927
Frank
2007
Frank Smith
February 5, 1927 — November 25, 2007
Frank Wilton Smith, 80, died Sunday, November 25, 2007 at Magnolia Manor-Tupelo.
He was born on February 5, 1927 in Meridian, Mississippi to the late Charlie Edward Smith and Hannah Elizabeth (Hitt) Smith. He was saved and born again on July 4, 1941.
On April 19, 1944 he married the late Reba Corene (Randall) Smith of east Tupelo and they were married for 61 years until her death in 2004. He felt the call of God upon his life to serve in the ministry as a young teen, and pastored his first church in 1947 at the East Tupelo Assembly of God Church, and went on to pastor fourteen churches with the Church of God of Prophecy until his retirement in the early 1990s, after pastoring for 48 years. Although he retired from the leadership as a pastor, he never retired from ministering to others and continued to bless everyone he came in contact with.
During his life, he could always be found singing around the area at many gospel singings or revivals, or on local radio shows on the weekends singing with friends, as he was well known for his singing and playing the guitar.
He has received much recognition as he is known as the man that taught Elvis Presley how to play the guitar, as he was the pastor of East Tupelo Assembly of God church where the family of Vernon and Gladys Presley were members. He also taught Elvis the song Old Shep which he went on to record, and he is recognized in many books, documentaries, films and monuments for his relations with Elvis.
Although he remained a licensed minister with the Church of God of Prophecy until his death, he enjoyed attending church at West Jackson Street Baptist Church the last few years of his life.
He is survived by four daughters: Reba Evonne Maxwell and husband, Larry, of Zion, Illinois; Elaine ODoherty of Dallas, Texas; Betty Kaye Brasfield and husband, Eddie of Okolona; and Tammy Ruth Smith of Tupelo; six grandchildren: Patrick Keith Maxwell, Amelia Elizabeth (Maxwell) Risch, Daniel Cahir ODoherty, II, Siobhan Morie ODoherty, Dorinda Suzanne Brasfield, and Nathan Miles Walker; five great-grandchildren: Haley Evonne Maxwell, Malai Alexandria Maxwell, Kyla Suzanne Risch, Ashlyn Elizabeth Risch, and Conner Cahir ODoherty; one brother: Charlie Edward Smith, Jr. of Biloxi, Miss.; one brother-in-law, Edward Herman Randall of Tupelo; two sisters-in-law, Hazel Taylor of Armucheel, Georgia; Jewel Randall Worthey of Los Angelas, California; and his loving caregivers of Magnolia Manor-Tupelo.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Reba Corene (Randall) Smith on August 22, 2004; three brothers Thomas Eugene Smith, Jessie Lawrence Smith, and Paul David Smith; four sisters Mary Alice Smith Dubose, Flora Mae Smith Miles, Orelle M. Hodges, and Minnie F. Crenshaw.
He preached many times using the scripture I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, and he did just that.
Visitation is 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at Pegues Funeral Home " Tupelo. A Homegoing Service will be on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of West Jackson Street Baptist Church, Tupelo, Mississippi with Bro. Leslie Porter and Rev. Derwood Dubose officiating. Burial will be in Lee Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be Nathan Walker, Daniel ODoherty, Darrell Grimes, and Eddie Randall.
Honorary Pallbearers will be his caregivers at Magnolia Manor.
He was born on February 5, 1927 in Meridian, Mississippi to the late Charlie Edward Smith and Hannah Elizabeth (Hitt) Smith. He was saved and born again on July 4, 1941.
On April 19, 1944 he married the late Reba Corene (Randall) Smith of east Tupelo and they were married for 61 years until her death in 2004. He felt the call of God upon his life to serve in the ministry as a young teen, and pastored his first church in 1947 at the East Tupelo Assembly of God Church, and went on to pastor fourteen churches with the Church of God of Prophecy until his retirement in the early 1990s, after pastoring for 48 years. Although he retired from the leadership as a pastor, he never retired from ministering to others and continued to bless everyone he came in contact with.
During his life, he could always be found singing around the area at many gospel singings or revivals, or on local radio shows on the weekends singing with friends, as he was well known for his singing and playing the guitar.
He has received much recognition as he is known as the man that taught Elvis Presley how to play the guitar, as he was the pastor of East Tupelo Assembly of God church where the family of Vernon and Gladys Presley were members. He also taught Elvis the song Old Shep which he went on to record, and he is recognized in many books, documentaries, films and monuments for his relations with Elvis.
Although he remained a licensed minister with the Church of God of Prophecy until his death, he enjoyed attending church at West Jackson Street Baptist Church the last few years of his life.
He is survived by four daughters: Reba Evonne Maxwell and husband, Larry, of Zion, Illinois; Elaine ODoherty of Dallas, Texas; Betty Kaye Brasfield and husband, Eddie of Okolona; and Tammy Ruth Smith of Tupelo; six grandchildren: Patrick Keith Maxwell, Amelia Elizabeth (Maxwell) Risch, Daniel Cahir ODoherty, II, Siobhan Morie ODoherty, Dorinda Suzanne Brasfield, and Nathan Miles Walker; five great-grandchildren: Haley Evonne Maxwell, Malai Alexandria Maxwell, Kyla Suzanne Risch, Ashlyn Elizabeth Risch, and Conner Cahir ODoherty; one brother: Charlie Edward Smith, Jr. of Biloxi, Miss.; one brother-in-law, Edward Herman Randall of Tupelo; two sisters-in-law, Hazel Taylor of Armucheel, Georgia; Jewel Randall Worthey of Los Angelas, California; and his loving caregivers of Magnolia Manor-Tupelo.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Reba Corene (Randall) Smith on August 22, 2004; three brothers Thomas Eugene Smith, Jessie Lawrence Smith, and Paul David Smith; four sisters Mary Alice Smith Dubose, Flora Mae Smith Miles, Orelle M. Hodges, and Minnie F. Crenshaw.
He preached many times using the scripture I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, and he did just that.
Visitation is 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at Pegues Funeral Home " Tupelo. A Homegoing Service will be on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of West Jackson Street Baptist Church, Tupelo, Mississippi with Bro. Leslie Porter and Rev. Derwood Dubose officiating. Burial will be in Lee Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be Nathan Walker, Daniel ODoherty, Darrell Grimes, and Eddie Randall.
Honorary Pallbearers will be his caregivers at Magnolia Manor.
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