Rev. Edwin Herman Smith, Jr.'s Obituary
Rev. Edwin Herman Smith, Jr., 72, passed away on Friday, November 16, 2018 after a long battle with cancer. Edwin was born in DeRidder on February 15, 1946, raised in Merryville and was a graduate of Merryville High School. He attended college at Northwestern State University and University of Houston. He moved to the Houston area where he worked as a machinist at NASA, accounting clerk at Gray Tool Co., and as a credit manager for several companies, including Schill Steel and Mitsubishi. Later, Edwin returned to Merryville and worked as a machinist at Boise Cascade. He later worked in Iraq as an Incident Commander for KBR and URS Corporation, and as a Hazardous Materials Chief for PAE in Sudan. After returning to the states, he worked at CharJer Dental Lab in DeRidder. Edwin was a pastor and also the founder and director of Dove Prison Ministry where he worked as a volunteer Chaplain on Texas Death-Row. He was firm in his faith and enjoyed sharing the message of Christ with others. Edwin liked to be outdoors and enjoyed fishing and hunting. He also was a talented photographer and won numerous awards for his photos. He also loved working in his garden at home.
He is survived by his daughter; Stephanie Hillard (David) of Humble,TX; two sons: Mark Smith (Rosy) of Magnolia, TX and Micah Smith of New Caney, TX; two sisters: Shirley Slaydon of DeRidder, and Charlotte Fountain (Jerry) of Merryville; 6 grandchildren: Leah Cockriel of Humble, TX, Emely McIntyre (Joshua) of Spring, TX, John Oliver (Emily) of Leeds, AL, Melissa Smith of Magnolia, TX, Matthew Smith of Magnolia, TX, and Noah Hillard of Humble, TX; 3 great-grandchildren: Izabella, Paul, and Abel and 1 great-grandson on the way; plus many extended family members.
He is preceded in death by his parents: Mary Helen Smith and Edwin Herman Smith Sr. of Merryville and one infant son, Matthew.
Pallbearers will be Dennis Powell, Jimmy Martin, Nick Slaydon, Aaron Pollock, Kevin Slaydon, and David Hillard. Honorary pallbearers will be Charles Honea, Joe Simmons, Troy Bryant and all “Stand in the Gap” members.
Visitation will be held on Friday, November 23, 2018 from 4:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. and on Saturday, November 24, 2018 from 9:00 A.M. until Funeral Service starts at 11:00 A.M. in the Labby Memorial Funeral Home of DeRidder with Rev. Dale Patton officiating. Interment will follow at Cooper Cemetery, Merryville, LA.
Words of comfort may be expressed to the Smith Family at www.labbymemorial.com. The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations can be made to the medical fund for Edwin’s disabled son, Micah. Donations can be made via PayPal to [email protected]
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