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LEONARD SMITH Obituary
Dr. LEONARD N. SMITH
Dr. Leonard N. Smith, 60, transitioned on February 20, 2022 surrounded by family. Raised in Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC, Dr. Smith graduated from Dunbar High School. He retired in 2021 after more than 30 years as pastor of the Mount Zion Baptist Church, Arlington, VA. He also pastored the Union Baptist and Rivermont Baptist Churches in Gordonsville and Lynchburg, Va., respectively. Dr. Smith passionately served as Executive Dean to the President, Virginia University of Lynchburg. He is survived by his wife Yalonda N. Smith; daughter Tiffany Smith Deans (Merrick); son Philip Smith (Cindy); sister Carol Murray and a host of family and dear friends. He will also be lovingly remembered by scores of sons and daughters in the ministry. Services will be held at the Mount Zion Baptist Church, 18410 Chapel Street, Triangle, Va., on Friday, March 4, 7 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, March 5 at 11 a.m., with the viewing from 9 to 11 a.m. Professional services are being handled by Bianchi Funeral Home.
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Memories and Condolences
for LEONARD SMITH
Pastor Lee Powell
March 10, 2025
My brother and friend.
Audrey Childress
February 28, 2023
May the good LORD fill your hearts with the wonderful memories and joyful times you shared together as you celebrate a life well lived. God Bless!!
Maureen A Barnes
February 25, 2023
My condolences to the Smith Family
Rest in Paradise ! Rev. Dr. Leonard Smith
Bishop Michael Turner
February 14, 2023
LNS was an awesome gift to the Body of Christ. His influence is still being felt and the seeds he planted are germinating. Bless the Lord!
LaTanya Brooks
March 13, 2022
May your love and precious memories fill your heart with joy. Bishop Smith will surely be missed. I´m praying for comfort, strength and peace for the entire family. Love to all of you.
Michelle Hackley
March 12, 2022
Rest easy Bishop Smith you will be sorely missed. My sincerest condolences go out to Yalonda, Tiffany, Phillip and Carol.
The Wilson Family
March 6, 2022
Prayers are extended to the family of late Dr. Leonard Smith. Pastor Smith has left a legacy and teaching of Jesus Christ. May God bless the family now and always. -The Wilson Family (Herndon,VA)
T. Warrick
March 5, 2022
Sending my sincere prayers and condolences to the family.
Maureen Barnes
March 5, 2022
My condolences to the Smith Family
Dr Leonard Smith, a man of God I always enjoyed him, when he visited ZionBaptist Church in Washington DC
Marshall Ruffner
March 5, 2022
My condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Leonard Smith. A great teacher of the word of God. He will truly be missed by so many. May he rest in eternal peace.
Pamela Marjorie Roberts
March 5, 2022
My sincere condolences to the family.
Linda Lewis
March 5, 2022
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
Kia Harkless
March 5, 2022
My deepest sympathies to the Smith and Deans families. My children and I will always remember his powerful sermons (with alliteration!) and bright smile! I will always remember when he officiated the "Baby Blessings " and Baptism of my children. May Pastor Smith rest in peace!
Kia Harkless and Family
Rochelle Ray and Taylor
March 5, 2022
Thankful to God for the blessing and gift Pastor was to my spiritual growth and grateful to his Family for sharing him with so many over the years. May the Lord continue to comfort and give you peace and strength.
Loretta Reid and Family
March 4, 2022
We are thinking and praying for you during this difficult time. Celebrate your memories and in those memories may you find comfort.
La-Wanda Briggman-Sousa
March 4, 2022
I'm offering my condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Smith. A great teacher of the word of God. He will truly be missed. May he rest in eternal peace. Job well done.
Johnnie Simmons
March 4, 2022
Prayers and condolences. Always a joy to hear and worship with...
Rev. Louis B. Jones, II
March 4, 2022
To Reverend Yolanda, Tiffany, Phillip and the entire Smith Family,
"Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar, when I put out to sea" - Tennyson
I, along with the Pilgrim Baptist Church Family, offer this letter as an expression of our deepest love and concern for you and your family. May God be your refuge and your strength, a very present help in your hour of bereavement.
I praise God for a long-standing relationship with Dr. Leonard Smith. Our initial meeting was an informal one, at a Progressive National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. event. It was later that I learned of our spiritual connection. His father in the ministry, the late (Rev. Dr. James E. Simmons) was a son in ministry, of my biological father, the late Rev. Dr. L. B. Jones, Sr., making him my brother in the ministry, which made Dr. Leonard Smith my nephew in the ministry. So affectionately, we called each other uncle and nephew.
What a great and marvelous gift embodied in one person! Every now and then God affords us an opportunity to be in the presence of an awesome individual who has exemplified not only a strong relationship with Jesus our Savior, but has the presence and prominence to sit with kings but yet can also be touched by the common man. Well done my friend, colleague, my brother, my nephew. We will see you when we see you.
Family, if there is a need we will avail ourselves; my immediate family, and the Pilgrim Church Family. Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. We have his assurance that the ultimate end is not death, but eternal life.
For Christ,
Rev. Louis B. Jones, II, Pastor
Dr. Jean R. Cobbs
March 4, 2022
CONDOLENCES AND DEEPEST HEARTFELT SYMPATHIES TO THE SMITH FAMILY AND ALL WHO LOVED DR. SMITH.
Dr. Yvonne L. Love
March 4, 2022
My Deepest Sympathy to the family of Rev. Leonard N. Smith. Praying that God will give you strength during this time of celebration. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct you paths.
Mable D Ruffin
March 4, 2022
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Tina Scrivner Crump
March 4, 2022
Pastor Smith , thanks for the 15 years. You will be miss.
Audrey Childress
March 4, 2022
My sincere condolences to the family. May God Bless and keep you all.
Laura Chase
March 3, 2022
On behalf of my family (mother Marion Murphy and son William Chase) I can say that we all are praying for the Smith & Deans families and have asked God to wrap you in His loving arms of comfort and peace. We all will miss Rev. Smith but have decades full of memories of his teaching, preaching, laughter, hymn-loving, singing and pastoral as well as fatherly advice (he always made sure William had a belt on and didn´t let his pants sag. Lol). Most importantly we´ll remember his megawatt smile and his love for God and His people. No matter how much we´ll miss him we know you´ll miss him a hundred times more. May God´s strength be with you as you prepare for the upcoming celebrations of his life and legacy. We LOVE you all!!
Claiborne D. Haughton Jr.
March 3, 2022
Linda and I extend our condolences to the family of Rev. Dr. Leonard N. Smith. You're in our prayers. May the God of comfort give you strength and courage at this time of bereavement. We give all glory to God for Rev. Smith, who served as our legendary Senior Pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church for over 30 years. I'm blessed that he baptized me. He was one of the greatest preachers in Mount Zion's history. His clergy life was his greatest sermon.
Pastor Smith was a visionary who led Mount Zion's growth spiritually and numerically. He never forgot where he came from and pulled others up as he climbed the ladder of success. He trained and ordained numerous preachers especially Black women preachers. He was also an estimable Educator, Author, Mentor, Champion for women in the Pulpit and church leadership, Advocate for economic success and for people with disabilities. He literally changed the lives of hundreds by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus on Sunday mornings.
He believed in the power of education and earned a Master of Divinity and a Doctorate of Ministry and taught at seminaries. He received many prestigious awards, including 9 Honorary Degrees; and the "Leonard N. Smith School of Religion" at Virginia University Lynchburg is named in his honor.
He also gave many, including me, the opportunity to serve as guest preachers and speakers. For example, I recall fondly with gratitude on Black History Month Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, he took a picture during my speech with his own cell phone and put it on his Facebook page with this caption: "Dr. Claiborne Haughton is dropping some knowledge at Mount Zion Baptist Church this morning."(smile)
Finally, I admired him as a loving and devoted family man of impeccable integrity who walked with God.
Rev. Smith, my Pastor and my friend, I'm really going to miss you. Like a sunset dying with the rising of the moon, you've gone too soon. My respect and love for you will never end. But there's a higher power that we answer to. And you heard Him calling your name. Rest in heaven with God and the ancestors in perfect peace.
Sincerely, Dr. Claiborne D. Haughton Jr
Children and Youth Ministries
March 3, 2022
The Children and Youth Ministries at the Mount Zion Baptist Church, Arlington, Virginia offer our prayers and condolences to the family and friends of Pastor Leonard N. Smith. We were blessed by and appreciated his continued support and spiritual guidance to our ministry leaders, youth, and children. The support received from him helped shape the ministries we are today and the impact he had on our ministries will be forever remembered.
Gerri Porter
March 3, 2022
My deepest sympathy to the family may God comfort you and strengthen you, To God be the glory
Charles Crump
March 3, 2022
Thankful for being under his tulege for the last 30 years. Thank you my faithful servant.
Michael Turner
March 3, 2022
As we revere the memory of our brother in Christ, Bishop Dr Leonard N Smith, we offer heartfelt condolences to his grieving family. "Be not dismayed whate´er betide, God will take care of you."
Mary Jo Jones
March 3, 2022
I am hurting, crying but more importantly praying with you and for you. I won't say it will hurt any less. But I can say it will become more bearable. Tears will eventually become laughter of fond memories. I am forever grateful for your father. Keep smiling.
Tyon & Davone Roseboro
March 3, 2022
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Amy Davis
March 3, 2022
Thanks for the awesome messages from the pulpit you gave me as a child. You baptized me at 10 years old. My mother Gail loved to hear you preach. She couldn't believe you were just 28 and could PREACHHH! She never missed a service. You brought her zeal for the love of God back. She died in 2009. RIP Rev Smith!!
Amy Wynn Davis
BernardMHarris
March 3, 2022
I extend my deepest sympathy to the family of Dr. Reverend Leonard N. Smith
Marcus Hunter
March 3, 2022
He was def one of the "G.O.A.T.s" in MINISTRY ....I was blessed, and Loved by him ...and His Sermons ..ALL OF THEM ........ Heartfelt live and condolences to The Deans (Rev Tiff & Rev Merrick) Rev Yolanda Smith (wife) Min Patrick (son) I'm not sure if I spelled his name correctly ... Carrol Murray (his sister) AND ALL MINISTERS AND LAYMEMBERS AND ALL WORLDWIDE WHO TRULY EMBRACED......this GREAT MAN OF GOD!!!!!!!!! Bishop Smith will be GREATLY MISSED!!!!!!!
Ethel L. Gilmore
March 3, 2022
My condolences to the family. I will miss Dr. Smith, his profound teaching and preaching . God bless you.
Joseph A. Gilmore, Jr.
March 3, 2022
I am forever grateful for the doors Dr. Leonard N. Smith opened for me in ministry. Well done thy Good and Faithful Servant. Sleep well my brother,
I´ll see you in the morning.
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