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.