WILL SMITH SR.

Funeral services for Will Smith, Sr. of Hemphill will begin at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Thomas Johnson Church of Christ, 840 Thomas Johnson Rd in Hemphill, under the direction of Starr Funeral Home with Bro. Otha Smith and Bro. J. John Parker officiating.  Visitation will be held from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. prior to service time. Interment will follow services in Macedonia Cemetery with Caleb Smith, Christian Smith, Andre Smith, Jr., Andrew Smith, Terance Smith and Brandon Jackson serving as pallbearers.

Bro. Will Smith, Sr. peacefully departed this life on Saturday, May 3, 2025.  He was born on May 17, 1945 in Monroe, Louisiana, to Ernest, Sr. and Annie Lee Smith.

Raised in Monroe, Will grew up quickly, working from a young age to help support his mother and siblings.  He picked cotton as a child, served as a Boy Scout and attended Richwood High School.  At 19, he met the love of his life, Linda D. Freemount.  They married on November 14, 1965 and together built a family rooted in love and faith.

In 1966, the young couple moved to Houston, Texas where Will worked various jobs - from bricklaying with his uncle to positions at Stowers Furniture and Hobby Airport.  He eventually joined Cunningham Bearing Co., where he broke barriers as the first Black man to hold positions in Sales to managing multiple warehouses.  It was during this time that a friend, Paul Jackson, introduced him to the Gospel, forever changing the course of his life because he became a member of the Church of Christ.

Will obeyed the Gospel in 1975 and became a member of the Fifth Ward Church of Christ, under the leadership of the elders and Thomas Foster, Minister.  His passion for preaching grew and he worked faithfully spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He later earned a degree in Theology from Houston Christian Institute and dedicated his Sundays to preaching the Gospel at various congregations.  In 1982, following a company layoff, Will moved his family to Hemphill, to serve as full-time minister at Fairdale Church of Christ.  Will was a visionary leader whose guidance led to the congregation to a acquire a building from the local Church of Christ, relocate to its current site and establish what is now known as Thomas Johnson Church of Christ, where he faithfully served for 25 years.

In Hemphill, Will served not only the church but also the broader community.  He was instrumental in bringing water services to underserved areas in 1987 and was named Citizen of the Year by the Sabine Chamber of Commerce in 1988.  He became the first Black member of the Hemphill Lions Club in 1991, later serving as its 46th president.  In 1994, he was elected Sabine County Commissioner for Precinct 4 - the first and only Black person to hold that office.  Also, Will was a civil rights activist and was instrumental in advocating for justice in the murder of Loyal Garner.

After retiring from his post with the Thomas Johnson Church of Christ in 2007, Will and Linda divorced and Will moved to Monroe, LA where he worked as a bus driver for nine years.  He returned to Hemphill in 2013 where he and Linda reconciled and later remarried.  He later helped establish the West Alabama Avenue Church of Christ, the first African American Church of Christ in Many, LA where he served as minister until his passing.

Diagnosed with cancer in 2023, Will fought with quiet strength and dignity, with Linda by his side.  Will's life was marked by service, leadership and a steadfast love for people.  His faith, his dedication to his community and his belief in the power of the Gospel will remain his enduring legacy.

He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, Linda D. Smith; his mother, Annie Lee Smith of Hemphill; sons, Will Smith, Jr. of Hemphill, Otha L. Smith (Tersya) of Lafayette, LA, Andre Smith (Judy) of Austin, and Herbert Smith (Gwen) of LaPlace, LA; daughters, Daphlyn Mitchell of Avondale, AZ and Jessica Smith of Dallas.  He is also survived by his siblings: brothers, Robert Smith (Cynthis) of St. Petersburg, FL and Charles Smith of Hemphill: sisters, Barbara Smith Hayes (Clifton) of Houston, Earnestine Stinson (Jessie) of Dallas and Debra Brown (Wayne) of Hemphill. His sisters-in-law include Barbara Wicker (Ulysses) and Winona Guillory (Carroll) all of Houston and Frankie Freemount of Monroe.  He leaves behind nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins who will forever cherish his memory.  He also leaves a special daughter-in-love, Lawandra M. Smith and a special son, Carlos Parks.

He is preceded in death by his father Ernest Smith, Sr.; brothers, Ernest Smith, Jr.; and sisters, Laura Smith and Kathleen Smith.

Memories and condolences may be shared at starrfuneralhome.com.