1945

 Reverend Johnnie Lee Smith Sr. was born on 23 Jul 1945 in Cassatt, Kershaw, South Carolina, USA a child of Fred Smith and Marie Shannon Smith.

1950

Johnnie Lee Smith was counted in the census on 10 Apr 1950 in De Kalb, Kershaw, South Carolina, USA, as a 4-year-old, male, single, negro, son. Also in the home were; his father, Fred Smith; his mother, Marie Smith; and his siblings, Irene Smith, Ethel Mae Smith, Fred J Smith, Robert L Smith, Willie Herbert Smith, Horrise Smith, Jemmie Smith, and Moses Smith.

1970

When he was 24, he married Diane V. Savage, daughter of John Savage and Georgia Savage, in 1970.

2024

He died on 30 Aug 2024. He was buried on 06 Sep 2024 in Kershaw, South Carolina, USA at DuBose Family Cemetery.

Rev. Johnnie Smith, Sr. Obituary

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.

Services

Viewing
Thursday, September 5, 2024
1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Nelson-Haile Funeral Home
919 Church Street
Camden, SC 29020

Funeral Service
Friday, September 6, 2024
12:00 PM
Camden First United Methodist Church
704 W. DeKalb Street
Camden, SC 29020

Interment following funeral service
Friday, September 6, 2024
DuBose Cemetery
1571 James West Road
Cassatt, SC 29032