Willie James Smith

Life for Pastor Willie J. Smith began on September 3, 1949 in Newton County Georgia to the late R.C. & Mildred (Clark) Smith. He received his education within the Newton County School System where he graduated from R.L. Cousins in 1968. On Monday evening, November 1, 2021, Wille J. Smith was transformed to a new beginning in spirit when he answered his Heavenly Father’s call and went home. He was proceeded in death by his parents, his son (Dion Smith), his brother (Willie Hugh Smith), and sisters (Minnie Smith & Cecilia Tuggle). He answered God’s call into the ministry at an early age and had been on the battlefield for the Lord ever since. His spiritual journey started him out in the choir, to being a deacon, and God later ordered his steps into the pulpit to be an associate minister, after then pastor. Through his 40+ years of pastoring, he has met many people along the way. He was the president of the Newton County Minister’s Union over 30 years, founding pastor of Word of Praise Community Church, Director of the annual Newton County Feed the Hungry Program. He was employed by C&D Technologies in Conyers, GA for over 30 years until retiring in 2007. He was always eager and ready to help anyone in need, and if he couldn’t help you, he always knew someone who could. He was a strong voice and presence within the community, there were some who knew him and others who knew of him, he will definitely be missed. He leaves behind to cherish his memory; his wife Evangelist Gwendolyn Smith of 52 years, his son Jeffrey (Virginia) Smith, his daughter Connie Smith-Price, 1 grandson (Danquarius), 3 granddaughters (JeNya, Kennedy, and Malayjah), siblings Peter Brown of Covington, Julie White and Joseph Brown of Connecticut and a host of other family members and friends.