87, son of the late Willie Lee Smith and Mary Norwood Smith, died Sunday, May 16 at Duke Regional Hospital. He was an auto mechanic by trade but was best known for his many, many years as a local radio celebrity over Station WOXF and later WCBQ. He MC'd hundreds and hundreds of religious events over his lustrous career. He was also an avid race car owner/driver. In 2008 he was recognized as the first driver of African-American heritage ever to race at the Roxboro Drag Strip in Person County.

He is survived by three daughters, Valerie Smith Ragland and Barbara "Robin" Anderson both of Stovall and Fayecha Smith of Oxford; two son, Richard Smith of Greensboro and Ronald Smith of Oxford; three brothers, Joe Smith, William Smith and Leon Smith all of Oxford; three sisters, Alexine Venemon and Gertrude Smith both of NY and Ella Rebecca Wallace of Marion, SC; seven grandchildren; four great grandchildren; a vast number of other loving relatives, caring friends, and loyal fans.

A graveside service will be conducted Saturday, May 22 at 1pm by Rev. George Lee Bullock at Meadowview Memorial Park. A viewing is scheduled for Friday, May 21 from 4pm-6pm at Wright Funeral Home. All services will observe Covcid-19 guidelines of facial coverings and social distancing of six feet or more.