Morris Smith Sr.

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NEW ZION – Morris Smith Sr., 77, widower of Vivian Gamble Smith, died Monday, Feb. 10, 2014, at Palmetto Baptist Health hospital in Columbia.

Born Oct. 6, 1936, in Clarendon County, he was a son of the late Ellison and Estelle McFadden Smith. He attended Lodabar Parochial School and Walker-Gamble High School in New Zion. In his early youth, he accepted Christ as his personal Savior and became a member of Friendship Presbyterian Church, USA, where he served faithfully as an elder, deacon, sexton, treasurer of Presbyterian Men, and a member of the senior choir.

Survivors include six children, Vanessa (Andrew) Washington, Antoinette (Carl) Smith, Morris (Sharon) Smith Jr., Vanessa Rufus, Morris (Connie) Ronald Burgess and Shemeka Kennedy; three children reared as his own, Rosetta Smith, Douglas Smith and Rodney (Bernice) Hammett; four brothers, Ellison Smith Jr., Ulysses (Myrtle) Smith, James C. (Ernestine) Smith and Daniel (Sandra) Collins; two sisters, Lula Mae Sanchez and Laura Timmons; three sisters-in-law; five brothers-in-law; 12 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Celebratory service were held Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014, at Friendship Presbyterian Church USA, Black River Road in New Zion, with the Rev. Carnell Witherspoon officiating and Elder Gloria Frierson assisting.

Burial followed in the churchyard cemetery.

The family received friends at the home of his son and daughter-in-law, Morris Jr. and Sharon Smith, 1189 Heriott St., Manning.

These services were entrusted to Samuels Funeral Home LLC of Manning.