Roy Smith

Dr. Roy J. Smith, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and leader in North Carolina Baptist life, passed from this life to the next on Thursday, October 18, 2018 at Brookridge Baptist Retirement Community in Winston-Salem, NC. Dr. Smith was born in Macon County, North Carolina on July 7, 1929 to the late Sanford J. Smith and Pearl Kinsland Smith. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Doris Pearce Smith. He is survived by his wife of 14 years, Charlotte Cook Smith; three children, Ginger (Dick) Graves, Roy (Martha) Smith Jr., and Tracy Smith; Charlotte’s two children, Steve (Sheryl) Cook and Ann ­­­­­­Parker;  eleven grandchildren, Shelley (Justin) Sizemore, Betsy Graves, Charlie Graves, Jordan (Jessica) Smith, Nicholas (Ashley) Smith, Jaclyn (David) Holland, Ashtyn Smith, Adam Cook, Sophie Cook, Andrew Parker, and David Parker ; three great-grandchildren, Elliot Sizemore, Layne Smith, and Emelia Smith; his brother Johnny (Guinehl) Smith, and two sisters, Lib Pierce and Peggy (Clinton) Clevenger, and many nieces and nephews.   Dr. Smith was a graduate of Wake Forest College (‘53) and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (‘56). He completed additional graduate studies at North Carolina State University and Emory University.  He holds two honorary doctorates of divinity from Wake Forest University and Campbell University. A 1984 article in the Biblical Recorder announcing Dr. Smith’s election as General Secretary of the North Carolina Baptist Convention led with the headline “Roy J. Smith is always at home in North Carolina,” a sentiment that rang true until the very end of his life. His storied career was motivated by service to God and to the people of North Carolina.  Dr. Smith was beloved across the state for his patient and scholarly mind, his oratorical genius in the pulpit, and his compassionate and dedicated servant leadership. He was a lover of Wake Forest Athletics, and a well-known sports commentator to his family and friends. He was an accomplished guitar player and singer, traveling across the state to perform country and bluegrass music, with a particular proclivity toward Johnny Cash. He was a great fisherman, a competitive Rook and Boggle player, and an accomplished gardener. Dr. Smith travelled extensively across the world both on behalf of the Baptist State Convention and for pleasure. He enjoyed spending time at the mountain house in Franklin, NC built on his family’s land.  Dr. Smith had a very distinguished career. His entire 43-year ministry was within the state’s boundaries.  He served as pastor of Union Hope Baptist Church, Zebulon (1954-57) and Jersey Baptist Church, Lexington (1957-62). From 1962-1997, he served the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. He held positions as Associate in Missions, Secretary, Town and Country Missions and Seminary Extension, and Associate General Secretary-Treasurer. In 1984 he was elected Executive Director-Treasurer of the Baptist State Convention, a role he filled until his retirement in 1997.  He was recognized as North Carolina State and Southeastern regional Rural Pastor of the Year in 1962 and as Tarheel of the Week in 1984.  Among his many civic commitments, Dr. Smith served on the Board of Trustees at Wake Forest University as well as played an integral role in the foundation of Wake Forest University Divinity School and Campbell Divinity School.  He served as a member of the coordinating council for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina and was the National Cooperative Baptist Fellowship representative to the Baptist World Alliance. Dr. Smith’s family invites others to join them in celebrating a life well lived on Saturday, October 27 at 11 am at First Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC. A reception will follow the service in the Kelly Auditorium at First Baptist Church.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Wake Forest University Divinity School (PO Box 7227 Winston-Salem, NC 27109), the Capital Campaign at First Baptist Church (501 West Fifth St. Winston-Salem, NC 27101), or Brookridge Retirement Home (1199 Hayes Forest Dr. Winston-Salem, NC 27106). Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com