Sterling Price Smith

1943 - 2019

STERLING PRICE SMITH, age 76, of Institute, passed on November 6, 2019. He was born February 14, 1943, in Boomer, to the late John Nathaniel Smith and Claudine Arthelia Carter Smith.
Sterling attended public schools in Fayette County and graduated from Gauley Bridge High where he received an athletic scholarship to West Virginia Tech. He excelled in academics and athletics and received an undergraduate degree in education. He taught in public schools but one of his greatest rewards was teaching "New Careers" which helped many men and women attain careers in many professions. He ended his professional career as an associate director for the WV Dept. of Public Health. Sterling was an avid sportsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing but most of all, Sterling loved the Lord and loved serving the Lord with his many gifts such as teaching, playing the guitar and singing.
He especially enjoyed singing many of Sam Cooke's spiritual songs. At a young age, he gave his life to the Lord and joined Harewood Baptist Church in Harewood, W.Va., where he taught the adult Sunday school class.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Veronica Smith.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Doris Smith; son, Curtis Foster of Riverdale, Georgia; daughters, Penny Foster of Dunbar and Suzanne Smith of Florida; brothers, John Smith (Barbara) of Rand, Rev. Larry Smith (Louvenia) of Dunbar; sisters, JoAnn Jones (Lewis) of Camden, South Carolina Alma Taylor (Tom) of Dunedin, Florida; two uncles, Wright Blake of Detroit, Michigan, and Charles Smith (Eula) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; four grandchildren, Maurice (Moe) Makhene Jr. (Lexi), Kia Lacey, Matthew Green, and Dominique Johnson, and a host of friends, cousins, nieces and nephews; a dear cousin, Barbara Lehman of Boomer; and his closest friend and hunting buddy, Kenny Patterson of Charleston.
Special thanks to Sterling's caregiver, Monty McCrary, and his loyal and loving nephew, Bryan Smith.
A service to celebrate his life will be held at 12 p.m. Saturday, November 16, at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, 821 B Street, St. Albans, West Virginia 25177, with the Rev. Michael A. Poke officiating. Burial will follow at Grandview Memorial Park in Dunbar. Visiting time for friends and family will be one hour prior to the service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in memory of Sterling to St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church Building Fund, 821 B Street, St. Albans, WV 25177.
Preston Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences can be sent to the family at preston funeralhome@hotmail.com.