Henry J. Smith, Jr. 66

Mr. Henry J. Smith, Jr., son of Mr. Henry James Smith, Sr. and Mrs. Elizabeth Patterson Smith was born in Tampa, FL. on July 1, 1957. He was reared in a Christian home, exposed to Christ at an early age, joined Mt. Olive A.M.E. Church and has maintained his membership there for many years.

Henry attended Jefferson High School where he played basketball. Henry, and several of the pallbearers were his high school basketball team members; played for the State Basketball Championship and finished number 2 in the State of Florida. He graduated in the Jefferson High School Class of 1975. He furthered his education graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics at the University of Florida where he’s an active member of the Gator Nation..

Professionally, Henry returned to Tampa and became a Licensed Insurance Agent . He also taught school and refereed in the Hillsborough County Public Schools for many years. Civically, Henry was appointed to the Board of the Palm River Family Department of ODC by Commissioner Gwen Myers.

Henry was a joyful, sincere, encouraging and positive human being as well as being a friend to all. He was fulfulled and happily married to his wife, Pamela Smith.

He was preceded in death by his father, Henry; mother, Elizabeth; sister, Josephine; brothers, Michael and Harold.

Henry leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife, Pamela Smith; daughters, Alicia Smith, Damesia Clark, and Tiffany Williams; brother, Herbert Smith and wife, Lizzie; sister, Carol Stewart (James Beauford, Jr.); grandsons, James Clark, Jamel Clark, and Trenton Williams; mother-in-law, Dorothy Sneed; brothers-in-law, Michael Sneed (Helen), Benjamin Sneed (Traci), and John Austin (Joyce); nieces, Xylina Cooper (Keith), Felecia Jordan (Perry), Tia Young (Victor), Kendra Stwart (Damuel); nephews, Robert Austin (April), Herbert Smith, Jr., Antron and Carl Puryear, Javan Ferguson (Millicent), Jeffery Stewart, Stephen Stewart; uncles, Walter Polk, Artie Polk; cousins, Henry (Skip) Hunter, Andrea Partee; The Sneed Family, and other sorrowing relatives and devoted friends; Dottie Boone (mother of daughter, Alicia); Pat Odor, Leroy Staley, Soloman Johnson, Sherod Wilder, Hubert Smith, James Harrell, Steve Stephenson, Richard Mesa and Tony Fowler.

Extended Family, Eloise Griffin, Attorneys, Delano and Carolyn Stewart, Former State Senator, Arthenia Joyner, Former State Senator, James Hargrett and wife, Berlynn, Beverly Webb, Geraldine Twine, Judge Barbara Twine Thomas, Rosa Cambridge, Judge Perry Little, Mary Birdsong, Mary Barthel, Beverly Barker, and Lois Daniels.

Condolences may be sent to the family at Oldham Funeral Home.