MEMORIAL CEMETERY
ANDERSON COUNTY, TEXAS

Born:  25 February 1902 Died:  20 April 2000 - Anderson County, Texas Father:  George Edward Smith Mother:  Virginia Love Smith Spouse:  Ella Mae Henry - 3 July 1955

Timothy Steven Smith was born:  February 25, 1902, Brownwood, Texas Parents:  Mr. George Edward Smith 1845-1913) and Mrs. Virginia Love Smith (1872-1062) Forman Education:  Elementary:  Brownwood; High School:  Prairie View A&M Academy; Bachelor of Science Degree:  Prairie View A&M College; Graduate Study:  Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa; Arizona State University, Tucson, Arizona. Church Affiliation:  Grant Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church Marital Status:  On July 3, 1955 he united in holy matrimony with Ms. Ella Mae Henry. Preceded in death by:  Brothers: Jerry Smith, Eliza Smith, George Smith, Jr., Oliver Smith, John Smith, Reganald Smith Sisters: Lebirda Edwards, Lebertha Mango, Lillian Griffin, Ethel Hornsby, Blanch Taylor, Millie Lane, Cora Smith Survivors:  A loving wife, Mrs. Ella Mae Henry Smith, and the entire Henry Family whom he adopted as his family; daughter, Ealie Cheri Henry, St. Louis, Mo.; foster daughter, Margie Riley of DeSoto, Texas; surrogate parents to Dr. Annie Edwards, Tennessee Colony; and a host of friends and church family.

The parents of Timothy Stephen Smith made a profound impact on his life.  Timothy's father, George E. Smith was a runaway slave from Richmond, Virginia.  Assisted by his grandmother who is believed to have been a full-blooded Indian, he escaped to Washington.  He never knew his father or mother.  After arriving in Washington, he became a 'contraband' of war and helped other escaped slaves dig trenches to protect Union soldiers from Confederate soldiers.  After the war, Mr. Smith joined the U.S. Army 9th Calvary in 1868, changing his name from Jackson to Smith.  He traveled from Washington to Fort Concho in San Angelo, Texas to assist in protecting pioneers from Indian uprisings.  There he was a member of the famed Buffalo Soldiers and was discharged in 1879. Sometime before leaving Washington or on the way to Texas, Mr. Smith learned to read and write.  In the early eighties he moved to Brownwood, Texas and farmed a couple of years, then attempted to homestead in Brown County, was forced off the land.  Recognizing the  need for a school, he took a test to certify as a teacher, then organized the first school.  He petitioned the city for water service in the black neighborhoods.  he became an ordained Methodist minister in Georgetown, Texas in 1879, and in 1890, organized the first A.M. E. Church in the county and pastored in several places. George Smith married Virginia Love, a slave who had not been told that she was free.  She could not read or write, but spoke perfect English.  Fourteen children were born to the union and Mother Smith never worked away from home until after Father Smith's death.  Five children attended college, with each helping the other.  For several years Mr. Smith operated a grocery store and worked as a bank janitor.  He always carried one of his sons with him, thereby spending quality time with each one.  In 1945, a government housing project was built, dedicated and named George Smith Homes. Timothy S. Smith was 11 years old when his father died, but the influence prevailed because of their conversations about slavery and life in general. After completing 10th grade, Timothy's mother and a Professor Harding urged him to enter Prairie View Academy to complete high school.  He had only $15 and train fare, but worked in the dining room, fed animals, did farm work, cleaned buildings and worked in the library to earn money.  He graduated with a B.S. Degree in 1925 and did graduate studies at Iowa State University and Arizona State University.  During his 42-year career, he taught in Naples, Seguin, Port Lavaca, Hempstead, A&T College in Greensboro, N.C., St. Phillips Jr. College in San Antonio, Henry High School in Elkhart and Green Bay High School in Tucker.  His students often called, wrote or visited to seek his advice and to thank him for his guidance and counsel. Mr. Smith served the community as a member of the Anderson County Civic League and the Democratic Executive Committee.  For 10 years, he was chairman of Anderson County Precinct 2.  He was appointed to the Sub-Standard Housing Committee of Palestine, was secretary of the local NAACP, and was active in the East Texas Leadership Forum, the Texas State Teachers Association and the Retired Teachers Association.  In 1974 and 1976, Timothy Smith was a co-plaintiff in lawsuits filed in federal district courts, which changed city and county boundaries, giving blacks the voting strength to elect black officials in Palestine and Anderson County for the first time. Mr. Smith served Grant Chapel A.M.E. Church as a Sunday school teacher and superintendent, chairman of stewards, chairman of the trustee board, church treasurer, and president of the District Laymen's Organization.  Fraternal participation included Dean Lodge No. 279, Royal Arch, W.R. Roberts Consistory, and Free and Accepted Masons.  He received many awards for leadership in education, religion and civic involvement, including the "Man of the Year Award" from the Palestine Negro B&PW Women's Club, Inc.  He also received a 25-yaer pin and the Modern Farmer Award from the New Farmers of America Organization for his work as a vocational agriculture teacher.  Several awards were given by his church for attendance, leadership and years of service.  His abiding faith in God, his loyalty to his family while they lived, as well as his adopted family have left lasting memories.  he believed in his fellowman.  his motto was:  "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart and with all they mind, and thou shalt love they neighbor as they self."

The pictures and images used on the Memorial Cemetery pages were
furnished by the Anderson County Historical Commission and the pages
were compiled by Beverly Bailey Odom and Scott Fitzgerald.

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Copyright 2005 -
East Texas Genealogical Society and the Individual Contributors