- Collection:
- Atlanta Funeral Programs Collection
- Title:
- The Homegoing Celebration of Dr. Otis Wesley Smith, Sunrise May 12, 1925 - Sunset February 5, 2007, King Chapel - Morehouse College, 830 Westview Drive, Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Lawrence Carter, Officiating, Dean, Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel, Rev. Larry W. Hudson, Eulogist, Senior Pastor, St. Mark A.M.E. Church
- Date of Original:
- 2007
- Subject:
- African American men--Georgia--Atlanta--History--20th century
African Americans--Funeral customs and rites--Georgia--Atlanta--History--20th century
Funeral rites and ceremonies--Georgia--Atlanta---History--20th century
Funeral service--Georgia--Atlanta--History--20th century
Mourning customs--Georgia--Atlanta--History--20th century
African Americans--Georgia--Atlanta--Genealogy - Location:
- United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, 33.749, -84.38798
- Medium:
- church records
programs (documents)
records (documents) - Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
- Description:
- Funeral program for Otis Wesley Smith. Birth date: May 12, 1925. Death date: February 5, 2007. Funeral date: (not recorded). Church: King Chapel at Morehouse College (Atlanta, Ga.). The Atlanta Funeral Programs Collection is a project of the Digital Library of Georgia in association with the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History as part of Georgia HomePLACE. The project is supported with federal LSTA funds administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Georgia Public Library Service, a unit of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.
- Local Identifier:
- Folder number: 234
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/id:aarl_afpc_smithotiswesley
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/do:aarl_afpc_smithotiswesley
- Language:
- eng
- Extent:
- 2 pages
- Holding Institution:
- Auburn Avenue Research Library on African-American Culture and History
- Rights:
-
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Dr. Otis Wesley Smith, "a Grady baby," was born May 12, 1925, to the late Gertrude Wyche Smith and Ralph Horatio Smith. He attended Ashby Street Elementary School and Booker T. Washington High School in the City of Atlanta.
Otis received a BS degree from Morehouse College in 1947, where as "Will Shoot" he was the only documented athlete to letter in four varsity sports; that record still stands. He attended Atlanta University before attending Meharry Medical College, where he received his medical degree in 1954. Shortly after graduating, he married Gwendolyn Harris, and to this union they had one son, Ralph Hugh. They have one grandson, Robert Harrison. He completed his internship at Homer G. Phillips Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, and his residency in Pediatrics at Homer G. Phillips in 1963. In 1966, he became the first Black physician certified by the American Academy of Pediatrics to practice in the State of Georgia.
Otis credited the influence of Dr. Benjamin E. Mays and Coach Frank Forbes for all the successes he achieved. Funds donated to Dr. Mays by Margaret Mitchell, author of "Gone with the Wind," helped finance his medical education, as profiled in the book "Benjamin E. Mays and Margaret Mitchell," by Ira Joe Johnson and Dr. William Pickens. He practiced in the inner City of Atlanta until his retirement in 1987.
A tireless community activist, Otis served on numerous civic, educational, medical and religious boards. Among them: the Fulton and DeKalb Hospital Authority; Board of Management, Meharry Medical College; West End Medical Center; Board of Advisory, Morehouse School of Medicine; Southside Comprehensive Health Center; the Turner Seminary, Interdenominational Theological Center; Board of Trustees, St. Mark AME Church; Board of Directors, the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia; former President of the Atlanta Chapter of the NAACP (Life Member); and Board of Directors, Concerned Black Clergy. Otis was a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He was an active member of the Butler Street YMCA, the Atlanta Medical Association, the Georgia State Medical Association, the National Medical Association, and the West Fulton Rotary.
Otis was the recipient of many awards and honors for his unselfish involvement in and dedication to the community, including: the first "Bennie Service Award" (Candle in the Dark); Physician of the Year, Atlanta Medical Association (two different years); Physician of the Year, Georgia State Medical Association; and Citations from the State of Georgia from Governor Lester Maddox, Governor Roy Barnes, and Governor Sonny Purdue. The Fulton DeKalb Authority dedicated a building located on Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, The Otis W. Smith Medical Building, in his honor. He received the prestigious Trumpet Award, along with Dr. Albert Davis, Dr. James Ellison, and Dr. Roy Bell, for their efforts on the Doctors' Committee on Implementation, which documented the inequities based on race within the American health care system, particularly within the City of Atlanta, and exposed them to full public view. Their courageous work, not only helped to desegregate Atlanta's Grady Hospital, but all hospitals in the State of Georgia. As chairman of the committee he helped revolutionize America's health care system, including equal access to health care services for African Americans. On February 26, 2007, Otis will be inducted into the Civil Rights Walk of Fame.
Otis had many loves: his wife, son, and family; his work, jazz, sports, bridge, and reading. He was a member of many social clubs and organizations including the Guardsmen, the Bidders, and the Graduates bridge clubs.
Cherishing his memory 1s his loving wife, Gwendolyn; son, Ralph; grandson, Robert; n1eces, nephews, and many friends.
Prelude
Processional ........................................................................ Mr. Jarvis Wilson, Musician
Invocation............................................................................ Rev. Lawrence Carter
Hymn ................................................................................... "For a Thousand Tongues to Sing"
Prayer .................................................................................. Rev. Joseph Roberts Pastor Emeritus, Ebenezer Baptist Church
Solo ..................................................................................... Ms. Karen Lowery
Scriptures
Old Testament, Psalms 103:1-23 ............................. Dr. James McCoy New Testament, Corinthians 15: 1-11....................... Dr. Lorraine Walton
Musical Selection ................................................................ Male Chorus, St. Mark AME Church
Tributes
Dr. Samuel Dubois Cook Mrs. Mary Rose Taylor Mr. Ralph Hugh Smith (Son) Mr. Robert H. Smith (Grandson)
Musical Selection ................................................................ Mr. J. 0. Wyatt, Saxophonist Eulogy ................................................................................. Rev. Larry Hudson Musical Medley................................................................... Mr. Jarvis Wilson Alpha Hymn ........................................................................ "Dear Old Morehouse" Benediction ......................................................................... Rev. Larry Hudson Recessional. ......................................................................... "When We All Get To Heaven" Interment ............................................................................. Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery
5755 Mallory Road, Union City, Georgia
Tyree Diggs Norris Elder Randall Griffin George Jeter, Jr. Carleton Jinks
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Worth Christler Branch Curington Arthur McClung Emmett Proctor
Jessie Walton Alpha Phi Alpha American Academy of Pediatrics Atlanta Medical Association Bidders Bridge Club Graduate Bridge Club
Guardmens
Sons of Allen, St. Mark AME Church
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Alphabets Auxiliary of Atlanta Medical Association Daughters of Allen, St. Mark AME Church
Girl friends Inc., Atlanta Chapter Les Girls Bridge Club The Best of Bridge
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