Going Home Service for Mr. Joseph A. Smith, Jr. "Sonny" "God has given me good health for most of my life, and I am truly thankful..." (Sonny, July 9, 2002) Saturday, October 12, 2002, 11:00 A. M. Elim Baptist Church, 2359 Mt. Auburn Street, Augusta, Georgia. Reverend Dr. Charles E. Smith, Pastor, Officiating.

Going Home Service
for
Mr. Joseph A. Smith, Sr.
Sonny
God has given me good health for most of my life,
and I am truly thankful...
(Sonny, July 9, 2002)
Saturday, October 12, 2002
11:00 A.M.
Elim Baptist Church
2359 Mt. Auburn Street
Augusta, Georgia
Reverend Dr. Charles E. Smith, Pastor
Officiating
JOSEPH A. SMITH, SR.
January 7,1919 - October 9, 2002
Mr. Joseph A. Sonny Smith, son of the late Mrs. Mary Smith
Burton, was bom January 7, 1919 in Augusta, Georgia, and
departed this life on Wednesday, October 09, 2002. He attended
the public schools of Richmond County, including Weed School,
Walker Baptist Institute and Paine College. He also attended
New York University where he studied engineering.
Reared in a Christian home, Sonny accepted Christ as his
Saviour, and was baptized at Elim Baptist Church March 10,
1930 by the late Reverend R. L. Boyd. He served in the U.S.
Army during World War II and was stationed in England and
Italy. Following his five-year tour of duty in the U.S. Army, he
moved to New York in 1947. Upon moving there he joined
Concord Baptist Church, Brooklyn, New York. There he was a
member of the Sanctuary Choir and was a regular tenor soloist.
Mr. Smith was an engineer for the Naval Shipyard in New York,
and worked there until his retirement. He returned to Augusta in
1980 and reunited with Elim Baptist Church where he faithfully
served as a member of the Mass Choir and the Sanctuary Choir
where he served as president for several years. He was a regular
Sunday School member and a former member of the Trustee
Board. He was a former member of The Unity Savings Club.
He leaves to cherish his memory a daughter, Mrs. Claudia
(Willie) Riley; a son, Joseph A. (Barbara) Smith, Jr.,
Washington, D.C; three grandsons, Carlos Greene, Tony (Denise)
Greene, and Kelvin (Kathy) Greene; 12 great grandchildren;
beloved cousins, Ms. Ruth Wyse, Mrs. Charlotte Crawford,
Charles Crawford, Mrs. Doris C. (Robert) Robertson, Augusta,
GA; Shelby Green, Boston, MA; friend and caregiver, Ellis M.
(Ann N.) Johnson; beloved friend, Ms. Melissa Givens, St.
Petersburg, FL; other cousins, relatives, and friends.
Order of Service
The Reverend Dr. Charles E. Smith, Officiating
Processional Elim Baptist Church Musicians
Scripture Rev. Larry Neal, Pastor
First New Hope Baptist Church
Prayer Rev. Rudolph Mayes
Elim Baptist Church
Hymn It Is Well With My Sour Combined Choirs
Remarks Mrs. Elizabeth Fuller
President, The Mass Choir
Dea. Ellis M. Johnson
Eulogy Reverend Dr. Charles E. Smith
Pastor, Elim Baptist Church
Interment Summerville Cemetery
Augusta, Georgia
-Honorary Pallbearers-
Sanctuary Choir
Mass Choir
-Pallbearers-
Carlos Greene
Kevin Greene
Tony Greene
Thomas Jackson
Charles Crawford
Gary Newton
-In Appreciation -
The family of Joseph A. Smith, Sr. expresses sincere
appreciation for the many acts of kindness and love shown
them during his illness and passing.
The Family
My Heavenly Father Watches Over Me
Reverend W. C. Martin
I trust in God wherever I may be, Upon the land or on the rolling
sea,
For come what may, from day to day, my Heavenly Father watches
over me.
He makes the rose an object of His care, He guides the eagle
through the pathless air,
And surely He remembers me, my Heavenly Father watches over
me.
I trust in God for in the lions den, On battle field, or in the prison
pen,
Thru praise or blame, thru flood or flame, my Heavenly Father
watches over me.
The valley may be dark, the shadows deep, But o, the Shepherd
guards His lonely sheep;
And thru the gloom Hell lead me home, my Heavenly Father
watches over me.