George Edmond Smith

George "Edmond" Smith, age 78, was born in Fort Monroe, Virginia, to George Smith and Ethel Elizabeth Crawley Smith. He passed away peacefully in Lake Charles, Louisiana, on January 13, 2026.
From an early age, Edmond excelled as an athlete, earning a four-year athletic scholarship to Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky. It was there he met and married Carolyn Cunningham. Driven by a passion for helping others, Edmond later attended medical school and earned his doctor's degree in medicine. He dedicated his career to Family Medicine, serving communities in, Philadelphia and McKeesport, Pennsylvania, and after Hurricane Katrina, he relocated to Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Edmond was a fighter in every sense of the word. He challenged expectations and overcame barriers, becoming a Black doctor in an era when such achievements demanded not only talent but also courage and defiance. He fought with ideas, words, and convictions, ultimately becoming a published author and a man who stood firmly by his beliefs, regardless of popularity. Though he could be sharp, guarded, and distant at times, Edmond's integrity and determination were unwavering. He showed up for those he loved in the ways he knew best, and his enduring spirit remained even as his body grew weak. He will be remembered not as perfect, but as powerful; a fighter who left a lasting mark on the world, always on his own terms.
Edmond is survived by his daughters, Valorie Smith and Sonya Smith, both of Maryland; their mother, Carolyn Cunningham of Maryland; grandchildren, Denise Forrest and her children, Alanee' and Syier Jefferson, Percy Forrest Jr., and Jaden Smith; siblings, Judith Elaine Smith of Neptune, New Jersey, Dennis G. Smith of Houston, Texas, and Donna M. Pettway of Howell, New Jersey; as well as one nephew, Derrick Smith and nieces and other family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Brenda Smith and Gary Smith.
Edmond's legacy will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. May he rest in peace.