Ronnie David Smithson

Ronnie David Smithson was born on March 29, 1953, to the late John Harvey Smithson and Hattie Mae Bell Smithson in Kenbridge, Virginia. Ronnie was the eighth child in a family of fifteen children. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, William Harvey, Curtis Lee, John Earnest, Charlie McCral, and sisters Joyce Ann, and Evelyn.

Our family church was Mt. Bethel Baptist Church, our parents, Ronnie, and all our family worshipped here. Ronnie continued his church affiliation attending Clifton Park Baptist Church and visiting with Shirley at her church, The Peoples Community Baptist Church, both in Silver Spring, MD.

As a baby he developed an illness that left him with a learning disability which prevented him from being able to read and write with the proficiency of his siblings and other children his age. In spite of this Ronnie wanted to become a young man who could work and do things other people his age could do.

With limited resources in our local area of Virginia, in 1978 his sister Shirley assumed responsibility for him and moved him to Maryland to live with her. She enrolled him in a program at the Centers for the Handicapped (CHI) in Silver Spring, MD. This program allowed Ronnie to master life by becoming an individual able to work in competitive employment and to become socially active. This mission was accomplished with the assistance of instructors who taught him in different work skills. Ronnie also joined a program at Jubilee Associates in Kensington, MD that enabled him to meet people and participate in social group activities. Although he was never a "social butterfly," he made friends and participated in many activities. The Jubilee counselors also taught him how to use public transportation (bus) so he could get around on his own.

With these skills Ronnie was able to work, earn his own money, and on a limited basis, explore life. Throughout his career, until retirement, Ronnie worked mainly in various stores as a Store Helper which sometimes required him to take two or three buses to his place of employment. He really enjoyed working in a particular furniture store helping with cleaning the store and moving furniture as needed. In addition to social and work skills, with the help of his sister, Ronnie learned to maintain his own apartment. He really loved living on his own and was great at keeping his home neat and clean.

Ronnie loved to ride his bicycle and he rode it a lot! He also liked to exercise and take walks. He enjoyed watching movies and basketball games, going bowling, taking car rides, and going to various eating facilities. He especially enjoyed getting "SUBWAY" sandwiches, but it had to be a "footlong" along with no salt French fries or potato chips. Even with developing social skills, he liked his privacy and enjoyed more quiet times than being with a lot of people.

In recent years life became more of a challenge to him after he developed a kidney disease that resulted in him having to go on dialysis. Over the past few months his health deteriorated resulting in his spending time in and out of hospitals. Due to the change in his health, he was recently moved to Evergreen, a small group home in Ownings Mills, MD that provided him with 24-hour care. He loved the home and the people who cared for him. They loved him too, and took great care of him. On September 10th, he passed quietly in his sleep.

Ronnie is survived by brothers: Richard (Rochelle), Cedric (Cynthia) and Edwin; sisters: Shirley Martin, Delois Hazelwood (Chester), Rosa Richardson (Maurice), Mary V. Johnson (John) and Edna Smithson, one Aunt, Mrs. Geraldine Smithson, 12 nieces; 6 nephews and several great nieces and nephews, along with numerous cousins and friends.

Ronnie will be greatly missed by his family and others who knew him.