Celebration of Life for Bryce Smith, Monday, October 12, 1998, 1:00 P.M., Ben Hill United Methodist Church, 2099 Fairburn Road, SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30331, Rev. Dr. Carol N. Belton, Officiating

0 '12 Sunday, Oct. II, 1998 ****

Bryce Smith, political consultant, kids' advocate

By Rachel Tobin

charge of arrangements.

STAFF WRITER

The political consultant and

former director of public affairs

Bryce Smith, 48, of Decatur, for the Atlanta Urban League

was a political man who loved organized the league's "Do the

kids, people, and parties.

Right Thing" Awards to recog-

"But he couldn't dance," said nize youth achievement.

his childhood friend, Arthur

"I'm shocked," district attor-

Cole Jr. of Atlanta with a laugh. ney Paul Howard said when he

Despite his two left feet, the heard of Mr. Smith's death.

Wesleyan

"This is a particular loss to all

University

the young people in the commu-

alum needed nity. He always fought for the

only his "live- underdog."

ly" personal-

The political science student,

ity to glide elegantly

who also attended Morehouse (
College and Harvard University, i

through

was senior class president at

Atlanta poli- James B. Dudley Sr. High

'B

tics. He

School in Greensboro, N.C. and

s

worked with was once arrested for participat-

(I
B

Smith

President

ing in sit-ins while a teen. He

Vv

Jiquny Carter attended the 1963 March on

S'

as a campaign field coordinator, Washington and was drawn to

di

served in Atlanta Mayor May- the realm of politics, said Mr.

to

nard Jackson's administration, Cole.

~

was a Municipal Court clerk and "He had a keen grasp of

LE

administrator, and consulted

human nature and knew how

da Rc

Fulton County District Attorney people operated in the political

~

Paul Howard on his 1992 cam- realm," said Mr. Cole, who knew

paign for solicitor, and mayoral Mr_Smithfince first grade in

candidate Myrtle Davis on her Greensboro.

1993 campaign.

Survivori; include his mother,

Mr. Smith died Wednesday of Inez Robinson of Atlanta; a son,

acute aortic dissection, a rare Brian Smith f Atlanta; a daugh-

genetic disease, at St. Joseph's ter, Adrian S 'th of Atlanta; a

Hosptal. His funeral will be at 1 sister, !nett ll Lindley of Lithia

p.m. on Monday at Ben Hill

Springs; and o brothers, Daryl

United Methodist Church. Kelly Smith of Atlanta, and Harlen

&Leak funeral home is in

Smith of DeSot~ Texas.

X you tfiink
you trave; Anaas you Love,
}jou attract;
}lou are toaay wfiere your tfiougfits fiave brougfit you; you wi{{ wi{{ be tomorrow wfiere your tfiougfits take you. }jou cannot esca_pe tfie resu{t of your tfiougfits, but you can enaure ana {earn, can acce_pt ana be g{a. }jou wi{{ reafize tfie vision, not tfie ia(e wisli, of your fieart, be it base or beautifu{, or a mixture of botfi, for you 1-vi{{ afways gravitate toward" tfiat wfiicfi you, secret{y, most {ave.
Jnto your fiantfs wi{{ be _p{acea tfie exact resu{ts of your tfiougfits;
you wi{{ receive tfiat wfiicfi you earn; no more, no {ess. Wfiatever your _present environment may be, you wi{{fa{{, remain or rise witfi your tfiougfits, your vision, your iaea[
You wi{{become as sma{{as your contro{fing Desire; as great as your aominate ~TIRA710:Nf
~fct.,miLy w~-t&~Y~ ~frY~~
for cUL ~y~ of KymfJ~ tiu~OU"
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~efT1' & .lea~ .funeraf roome, Inc.
2321 tan5fer 1\.oa5 ll:>ecatur, ~A 30032
40412 84' 91 00
:fax 4 4 <284.1 611 r

<tefe6ration of Life
for
J;rl'ce mitfj
monbai', <0cto6er 12, 1998
1:oo :}e.m.
J3en 1bilTllnite5 metfjo5ist <tfjurcfj
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fficiating

OBITUARY
Bryce Smith was born May 28, 1950 in Harrisburg, PA, the youngest son of Harlen and Inez Smith. Bryce and his two brothers moved to Greensboro, NC at an early age to live with his grandparents. And it is there that he started and completed public school. he became active in civil rights at an early age. As a teen, he worked with the American Friends Service Committee, was arrested in the sit-in demonstrations that began in Greensboro and attended the "March on Washington" in 1963. He was a graduate of James B. Dudley Sr. High School, in 1968, in Greensboro. He served as President of the student body the same year.
In the late 60's and early 70's, he attended Morehouse College in Atlanta and Wesleyan University in Connecticut. Bryce funded civil rights progressive causes such as the Martin Luther King Center and the Institute for the Black World. He also worked for the Youth Project, an affiliate of the Cummins-Engine Foundation. He later worked in Atlanta City government as Special Assistant to Mayor Maynard Jackson, and was especially effective in managing contributions during the "Missing and Murdered Children" crisis. He left City government to become the Vice President of a travel agency for several years. During this time, and for the remainder of his professional life, he was active, and was sought after as a political strategist, speech-writer, and consultant. He advised many of the nation's most prominent politicians, including former President Jimmy- Carter. He managed youth programs and handled special events and proposals for the Atlanta Urban League until his death.
He is survived by his daughter, Adrian; son, Brian; mother, Inez Robinson; sister, Inett (Frederick) Lindley; two brothers, Harlen (Cheryl) and Daryl (Ella) Smith; an uncle, Preston Smith; and an aunt, Barbara A. Williams. He loved his many nieces and nephews, Darian, Shawn, Shannon, James, Russell, Virginia, Corey, Chakita, David, Brandon, Danielle, Darius, Lamell, ]ameli, Damita, Leonardo and Tiffany, as well as his God-daughter, Adrian Selena. He is also survived by his cousins, Kim, Yancy, Crystal and Patricia.
He will be greatly missed and loved by all.

ORDER OF SERVICE

PRELUDE

PROCESSIONALS

OPENING HYMN

How GREAT THou ART

No. 77

OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE

EccL. 3:1-9

NEw TESTAMENT ScRIPTURE

2 CoR. 5:1-5

REVEREND MICHAEL WARE

PLEASANT GROVE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

WoRSHIP THROUGH Music

JENNIFER FREEMAN

PRAYER WORSHIP THROUGH MUSIC

REVEREND PARNELL MOSLEY NEW EMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH
~\ \ ~ \W\.- () ~N LDRIN BELL

REMARKS

ARTHUR CoLE

\4 (;r l\~ WoRSHIP THROUGH Music t)() f\1

' JENNIFER FREEMAN

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L EULOGY

a l lT ~\\

REYEittND TIMOTHY McDONALD

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CKNOWLEDGEMENT

FIRST !CONIUM BAPTIST CHURCH
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RECESSIONAL

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NlY\ FLOWER BEARERS

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FAMILY AND FRIENDS

PALLBEARERS
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DAWN MEMORIAL PARK
1-285 AND GLENWOOD ROAD
D ECATUR, GEORGIA

FAMILY AND FRIENDS

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