Donald Edward "Big Don, Teflon Don" Smith

Donald E. Smith, 81, passed away March 10, 2026. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. March 21, 2026, at New Zion Baptist Church, 1501 Louis Coleman Jr. Drive. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Interment will follow in Louisville Memorial Gardens – West.

Donald Edward Smith also known as "Big Don", and "Teflon Don" was born in Louisville, Kentucky on July 6th, 1944. Donald Smith was born into a large family and learned to work hard from the very beginning. Donald Smith married Wylyne Verlynda Smith of Pulaski, Tennessee and from their union came Dionne Renee Smith Burns, Shannen Leah Heyman (James), and Camille Evon Smith. Donald Smith was employed by Ford Motor Company for many years and after retiring, opened his own successful company, Male Logistics II.

One thing that cannot be denied about Donald Smith is his willingness to give to others. Donald Smith made changes in many people's lives though his giving nature. As a husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend, Donald Smith will be remembered as someone who took pride in himself and his responsibilities as a Child of God.

The memory of Donald Edward Smith will be carried on in the lives of his daughters, their children, and everyone he encountered. Whether you called him "Daddy", "Uncle Don", "Mr. Don", "Don", "Mr. Smith", "Brother Smith", or even "Ed", Donald Smith was a man that has left his mark on each person reading about him right now.