Carl Linwood Smothers

Carl Linwood Smothers was born in Lexington, Virginia on December 27, 1950, the fourth of five children, to the union of Esray and Famie Winters Smothers. His early years of church and community service began at the Randolph Street Methodist Church where he attended Sunday school and joined the Boy Scouts earning numerous badges for his participation and service. Linwood (called "Wood" by his family and friends) was a quiet, industrious and very inquisitive young man who liked to figure out how things worked. He was best described as a very smart, intelligent, warm, and friendly person. His education and training started in Lexington, at Lylburn Downing Elementary school. He graduated from Lexington High School and matriculated at Washington and Lee University where he was the first African-American graduate receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering. He relocated to New York City where he received his Masters Degree in Systems Engineering from Columbia University. Upon graduation from Columbia University, Carl started his career as a Systems Engineer with IBM in Manassas, Virginia. In 1977 he married his beautiful wife, Scheryln Hunter; together they have four children, daughters, Paris and Patrice and twin sons, Patrick and Parren. Carl also has two granddaughters, Amari and Alexandra, and one grandson, Aden, all of whom were the loves of his life. A man of many talents whose quest for knowledge never ceased, he managed to find the time to obtain his real estate license. Carl attended church regularly and joined First Baptist Church in Manassas, Va. He resided in Manassas 10 years before moving to Clifton, Va. where he was a Boy Scout Troop Leader alongside his sons. In 1996, he was sought by Lockheed Martin to join their corporation and he then moved to Voorhees, New Jersey, where he and his family resided for the next 10 years watching each of his four children graduate college. In later years, his health declined and he retired from L3 Communications in 2007. In his last years he moved to Locust Grove, Virginia, where he lived comfortably enjoying and spending much time with his grandchildren. Carl died peacefully on February 20, 2009, at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. He was preceded in death by his father, Esray George Smothers. He was the loving husband to Scheryln Smothers, and was the devoted father to Patrice, Paris, Parren and Patrick; and son-in-law John Hopkins. He was the doting "Poppy" to his grandchildren, Amari, Alexandra, and Aden. He was the loving son to Famie Smothers and caring brother to James, Paul, and Louise Smothers and Joyce Johnson. He is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, and greatnieces and great-nephews. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2009 at The First Baptist Church at 103 N. Maine St. in Lexington, Va. The viewing will begin at 12 noon, memorial services at 1 p.m. with the burial to follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Lexington, Va. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Carl L. Smothers Cancer and Sarcoidosis Foundation, 1171 Sedgwick Drive, Locust Grove, Va. 22508.