Leslie Smith Sr.

Leslie Smith Sr. SUFFOLK - Leslie Smith Sr., 91, of 133 Birch Lane, died Saturday, April 17, 2010 in Sentara Obici Hospital. He was a native of Nansemond County and the son of the late Joe Bailey and Annie Smith. He was predeceased by his wife, Hattie Lee Smith; sons, Leslie D. Smith Jr. and Claude Johnson; daughter, Clarice Smith; and daughter- in-law, Charlotte Smith. He retired after 37 years and 11 months as a painter for the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth. He was a member of Little Bethel Baptist Church where he was on the Senior Usher Board. He leaves to cherish his memory three daughters, Lois Holloway (Bennie), LaRonda Turner (Thomas), both of Suffolk, Cathy Whitley of Hampton; two sons, Donald Smith Sr. (Kathy) of Chesapeake and Bobby Smith of Atlanta; foster daughter, Barbara Darden of Smithfield, Va.; godson, Darnell Eley of Suffolk; one brother, William Smith of Suffolk; son-in-law, William T. Gray Sr. of St. Louis; daughters- in-law, Ruby Johnson of Jamaica, N.Y., and Blanche Smith of Atlanta; sister-in- law, Violette Johnson of Newport News; a very special friend, Marie King; 21 grandchildren, 32 great- grandchildren, 29 great- great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 24, in Little Bethel Baptist Church with the Rev. Bernard Thomas officiating. A wake/visitation will be in Little Bethel Baptist Church, 6533 Everets Road, Suffolk, on Friday, April 23, from 6 to 8 p.m. Interment will be in Oakland Cemetery. Crocker Funeral Home Inc. is handling the arrangements. Condolences may be extended to the family at www.crockerfuneralhome.com.