SLS 16RS-1271 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 84
BY SENATOR MILKOVICH
SENATE. Expresses condolences upon the death of Rev. Dr. Henry Dee Smith Jr.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
3 death of Rev. Dr. Henry Dee Smith Jr.
4 WHEREAS, Smith, known widely as "H. D.", died peacefully surrounded by his
5 family on March 28, 2016 in Fairhope, Alabama, bringing to a close a nearly sixty-five year
6 commitment to serve the Lord and to preach the word of God; and
7 WHEREAS, Dr. Smith was born to LouElla Arant and Henry Dee Smith in a
8 farmhouse on the banks of the Quiver River in Leflore County, Mississippi, on September
9 3, 1927; and
10 WHEREAS, at the age of sixteen, H. D. enrolled in the University of Mississippi and
11 he remained a Rebel fan his entire life; and
12 WHEREAS, however, after one year on campus, World War II interrupted H. D.'s
13 education and he enlisted in the United States Army in 1944 and served in Guam in the
14 Pacific Theater until 1945; and
15 WHEREAS, upon returning home from the war, H. D. met and married his life-long
16 sweetheart, Ella Ruth Gore on January 15, 1948, and they began a life of love and devotion
17 until Ella's death in 2011; and
18 WHEREAS, in 1953, H. D. was ordained by his home church in Schlater, Mississippi
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SLS 16RS-1271 ORIGINAL
1 and he later enrolled in Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi where he graduated with
2 special distinction with a Bachelor of Arts degree in religion; and
3 WHEREAS, H. D. Smith Jr. continued his education and received both a Bachelor
4 of Divinity and a Doctor of Theology degrees from the New Orleans Baptist Theological
5 Seminary and he and Ruth embarked on his career of serving the Lord in his church; and
6 WHEREAS, H. D. and Ruth raised five children, two sons: Joseph and Timothy, and
7 three daughters: Rebecca, Rachel, and Deeana, with Joseph and Timothy both following
8 their father into the ministry; and
9 WHEREAS, Smith and his wife were dedicated to their family and both enjoyed
10 family gatherings and spending time together with all their children, their spouses and
11 children and, eventually, their eighteen grandchildren; and
12 WHEREAS, H. D. and Ruth treasured their family and especially enjoyed sharing
13 family dinners, watching western movies and football before the fire; and
14 WHEREAS, H. D.'s career in the ministry took the family to numerous churches
15 including Doddsville, Blaine, Forest and Ellison Road Baptist churches in Mississippi;
16 Florida Avenue, Trinity, Barksdale, Gentilly, Lakeshore, Western Hills and Grace Baptist
17 churches in Louisiana; and First Baptist Satsuma in Alabama; and
18 WHEREAS, H. D. loved his Lord and preaching the gospel in his church settings and
19 on the twenty-six mission trips that he and Ruth embarked upon, taking them to Korea,
20 India, Jamaica, Brazil, Mexico and Phillippines; and
21 WHEREAS, over the course of his preaching career, Smith brought countless souls
22 to a personal relationship with their Savior and the members of his churches in the deep
23 south would testify to his pastoring gifts and to his having brought a fresh mission awareness
24 to their fellowship; and
25 WHEREAS, throughout his ministry, Smith loved the people that God placed in his
26 care and he had a great passion for evangelism that did not fade as he got older and naturally
27 slowed down his preaching activities; and
28 WHEREAS, Smith died with his family around him and he left them to celebrate his
29 life and remarkable commitment to preaching the Gospel.
30 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
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SLS 16RS-1271 ORIGINAL
1 does hereby express sincere condolences upon the death of Rev. Dr. Henry Dee Smith Jr.
2 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
3 Henry Dee Smith Jr.'s sons Rev. Timothy Smith and Rev. Joseph Smith.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Mary Dozier O'Brien.
DIGEST
SR 84 Original 2016 Regular Session Milkovich
Expresses condolences upon the death of Rev. Dr. Henry Dee Smith Jr.
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