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DR. JOSEPH LAWTON SMITH

About

Duke University University of Miami

JOSEPH SMITH Obituary

SMITH, DR. JOSEPH LAWTON (2-7-10 to 1-10-11) age 81, died on Monday, Jan. 10th in Miami. Raised in a family of physicians in Greenville, South Carolina, Dr. J. Lawton Smith attended college at Emory and the top Medical School, Duke University. He did his residency at Wilmer Eye Institute at John Hopkins & his fellowship at Massachusetts Eye and Ear at Harvard Medical School. He served on the faculty in Ophthalmology at Duke University. Married Elizabeth Renick of San Antonio, TX in 1954. Dr. Smith was one of the "founding five" of Bascom Palmer Eye Institute - University of Miami Medical School where he worked from 1962 until he retired in 1993. He founded the Christian Ophthalmology Society in 1977 and served as President until 1990. In 1978, Smith launched the Journal of Clinical Neuro- Ophthalmology. Dr. Smith wrote over 300 articles and books which were published and directly impacted the professional and spiritual lives of hundreds of medical students, residents and fellows. He was a member of The Gideons International and was a Bible teacher for over 30 years and member of Upper Room Assembly of God in Miami. He served as a Captain in the Air Force and practiced Aviation Medicine in Korea during the Korean War. In addition to these and many other accomplishments in the medical field, his first love was always the Lord and he accounted all these accomplishments as nothing compared to knowing his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was predeceased by his brother, Charles A. Smith of Greenville, SC. Surviving are his wife, Elizabeth Renick Smith of Miami; son, Joseph Lawton Smith, Jr. (Tamara) of Orlando, FL; daughter, Pauline Smith Kalasinski (Ray) of Fort Mill, South Carolina; son, Hugh Coleman Smith (Joy) of Mendham, New Jersey; grandchildren, Taylor, Christine and Kendall and his brother, Dr. Hugh P. Smith (Sue) of Santa Barbara, CA. A Funeral Service will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011 at Upper Room Assembly of God, 19701 SW 127th Avenue. Graveside Service will follow at Miami Memorial Park , 6200 SW 77 Avenue, Miami. Memorial donations may be made to: Upper Room Assembly of God , 19701 SW 127th Ave., Miami, FL 33177, (305) 251-0876 and The Christian Ophthalmology Society, c/o Dr. Steve Demmick, 159 E. 2nd St., Chillicothe, OH 45601. Arrangements by: View this Guest Book at www. MiamiHerald.com/obituaries.

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Published by the Miami Herald on Jan. 13, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for JOSEPH SMITH

22 Entries

Travis Parker

January 7, 2023

God used this man of God to help change my life through his Bible Study Home Group while I lived in Miami Florida. I can't say enough about him. As well as being a member of Lighthouse Christian Ministries where we worship at Bird Park. He was the first person I met at church..he walked up and greeted me and told me he sees Jesus on my face and ushered me into the prayer room before church started to prayer for that morning service. This is not mentioned in his attached information but he was also selected to operate on President Carter's Eyes. He had God's gift on everything he did. Prayered for my eldest daughter Estana Miracle D as well. See you in heaven brother we'll c

ROBERT M EASTON JR OD FAAO

March 3, 2022

J Lawton Smith MD was my favorite professor at BPEI while I interned there in 1982. He cared about patients passionately, he made his case presentation enjoyable to learn, and he loved our Lord. He did so much for the profession of eye care. RIP

bruce bernstein

December 12, 2011

spending a day with dr. smith waslike nothing else ive experienced . i was suffering and wasdiagnosed with having multiple sclerosis at the end of the visit he shared a moment and said a prayer for us. bowing our heads as he chanted a prayer with his hands over our heads at such a difficult time, i felt touched tat god had sent me a message through him so i could carry on and SURVIVE. That was 23 years ago. although i lost touch with him , a piece of him is and will always be with me. Thank you and u r a blessed man.

Sabine (hoobski) Lehmann

September 3, 2011

Take comfort in knowing that now you have a special guardian angel to watch over you.

Travis Parker

August 19, 2011

After 20 years I still think of my friend, mentor and teacher Dr. Smith - I did not know him on a professional basis but I knew him as a Christian, I had just moved down from Virginia and was looking for a place to worship and a friend told me about a church that met at Bird Park. This is where I met one of my best friends - he took one look into my eyes and said "brother I see Jesus in your face" then he invited me to join them in a preservice prayer. There begin the mentorship thru his Tuesday Night bible studies at his house which set me on course for God to build a strong foundation of Love and faith in Gods Word. After I moved back to Va - over the years I would still try to stay in contact with my friend but as years past it was harder to get in contact with him and also communicate - but I know that now he's in Heaven and one day I will be soo excited to see my friend again. If you wonder why write something now - well it was thru a vision that I had this morning that God show me how he used Dr. Smith to guild my life as he has many many others towards the continual Love of Christ Jesus. I made many friends in that warm loving family room [next to the Pool] and always enjoyed the testimonies and stories that Dr, Smith shared - I've experienced nothing like it since. Dr. Smith - I will always consider you family - and hope that maybe someone in your family will see this and remember their friend from Virginia. Travis R. Parker [Chesterfield, Virginia]

Eli Avila

July 30, 2011

Dr. Smith called me just before my internship in June of 1986 and invited me to attend the Christian Ophthalmology Society meeting and to spend my elective month with him at BPEI. It was a wonderful experience working with such a brilliant and spiritual man. During my early career as an ophthalmologist and now as a public health official, I remember his wise words and Godly counsel. My prayers are with the family and we should rest assured that we will eventually see him again.

Eli N. Avila, MD, JD, MPH, FCLM
Secretary of Health - Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Ted Windsor

July 29, 2011

J.Lawton Smith had career changing effect on my life.He convinced me to switch my interest to ophthalmiology from card boracic surgery during my surgical internship at Duke. In 1960. I went to Washington u. For residency and specialized in strabismus.My wife was his secretary.Our golf games were spirited.a great man.Charles " Ted" Windsor MD

April 18, 2011

I grew up across from the Smith's in South Miami Florida. What a great family. My condolences to Mrs.Smith and the family.

I have wonderful memories of my time in the neighborhood.

Godspeed to you all!

Philip (Skeet) Albury
Stockbridge, Georgia

Bill Dreyer

April 6, 2011

Lawton taught me with his audiotapes. "I can see it when it moves!"
Genius prevails! W. Dreyer, MD

Helen Wallace

April 4, 2011

Dearest Family,
What a legacy your husband and father left in this world. You do not know me, but I heard about Dr. Smith yesterday in our church service. Like my father, he left a great pathway for others to see how a Christian follows in the walk of the believers. It was an honor to hear about Dr. Smith yesterday and I know that when Jesus greeted him he said,"Well done, good and faithful servant."
Helen Keller-Wallace
Columbia, SC
(Shandon Baptist Church)

Johnny Justice

January 28, 2011

Dear Libby,

For the next addition of the Ophthalmic Photographers' Society newsletter I am preparing an obituary following the recent death of Dr. J. Lawton Smith who is as you know recognized as the best neuro-ophthalmologist of the 20th century but is not as well known for his efforts in the early success of fluoresecein angiography at the Duke VA Hospital and the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

It was Lawton that made the call to me in 1962 when he said, "Johnny, we want you to jump on the next whisper jet (727) and come down to Miami to talk to us about moving here to help establish angiography at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute". I was on it and the rest is history.

I remember going in on Saturdays just to watch him "swing into total action" during his famous Neuro-Ophthalmolgy Rounds at the BPEI. In my view he was the best teacher in the history of medicine.

My family and I will be grateful to him and to you forever.

Johnny Justice. Jr.

Johnny Gayton, M.D.

January 26, 2011

Dr. Smith was one of the kindest, encouraging people that I have ever met. He said that the best way that I could honor God in medicine was "to do all things heartily, as unto the Lord". He gently explained that God wanted me to honor him by being the best eye surgeon that I could be and give Him the glory. I admired, respected, and loved Lawton Smith. I lost my biological father to Parkinson's 16 months ago. I feel that I lost one of my ophthalmic fathers this year to the same disease. Yet, I know that I will see them both again one glad day.

David J. Singer

January 18, 2011

Dear Libby, as you know, Lawton was my inspiration for becoming an ophthalmologist, and was my life-long teacher, in many areas. He shall be missed as a great teacher and a most special individual, along with the others of the "founding five" who were singularly special, never to be duplicated, and forever missed. I am so grateful that I had an opportunity to be at BPEI "when the giants walked the halls." They, and Lawton, are people I shall never forget.
David J. Singer, MD, FACS

Sue+Dolores (Neill/Lindley)

January 18, 2011

Dear Libby-
For all who knew him,Lawton was a wonderful,compassionate,brilliant,humorous,humble man,but more importantly,as our friend,Annie,put it-he was God's man. Love and blessings always,Sue+Dolores

Ann Lakin

January 18, 2011

Hi Libby, so sorry to hear about Lawton. We have so enjoyed all the articles that Lawton, jr has sent. It makes so many memories come back to mind. We (Mike & I and all my brothers and spouses) were together this past weekend and we had a wonderful time remembering all the "Lawton-ism" we could remember.
We are praying for you and the children. Love, Ann Lakin

Ron Rickner, Ph.D.

January 14, 2011

Libby, may God bless you in this sad hour. You and Dr. Smith have been such a huge blessing to me. Thank you for sharing him and your very lives with me. Love to you and your family.

Charlie Falugo

January 14, 2011

Dear sis,
While I know that Lawton is in Heaven and is experiencing unspeakable JOY, I know you miss him. I am sorry for your pain. I love you and I loved your husband. God used you and Dr. Smith to lead me to my Lord and Savior, Jesus when I was a 19 yr old rebellious college student. That makes you my spiritual mother and I will always love you. Thank you for all the love and care you gave to Lawton and to everyone who has passed through the doors of your God-honoring and love filled home.

January 13, 2011

Dear Elisabeth, Lawton was my most memorable professor and I appreciated his encouragement during your visits so much. God bless you. Sidney Indgin

Francis Skilling, M.D.

January 13, 2011

Dr. Smith was one of the most dynamic teachers that I've ever experienced in medical school. In addition, he was kind and understanding to his patients. My mother had a serious eye problem that was treated at Bascom Palmer in 1969, and she never forgot his kindness when he came to her room the night before she had surgery to pray for her. He was truly a unique teacher and influenced a generation of ophthalmologists.

January 13, 2011

To the Smith family.....My prayers and thoughts are with each of you. I have such fond memories of growing up next door to you in Miami. Dr Smith pierced my ears for me when I was 16 !!
God bless you, Missy Davis Hamlin (Atlanta,Ga)

January 13, 2011

Dearest Libby ~ Words can not be expressed at your loss but know that Dr. Smith is in Heaven. I remember that every Sunday, Dr. Smith was always smiling and I always saw a track in his pocket. Heaven has gained another angel. We are here for you in prayer, love, and support. God grant Libby peace that only You can give. Love you Libby!

Don Nicholson

January 13, 2011

Lawton's unique teaching style had a positive, lasting impact not only on students, residents, and fellows, but also on his professor colleagues. Thank you, Lawton.

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