J. T. Morriss & Son Funeral Homes

Smith, Rev. E. Cecil

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Rev. E. Cecil Smith, age 79, of Prince George, VA, went to be with his Lord on Saturday, December 12, 2009. He was born in Eure, NC, the son of the late Ernest R. and Emily Greene Smith. Rev. Smith served approximately 40 years in the area as a minister. He served as senior pastor at Hopewell Congregational Christian, Prince George Congregational, and Holy Neck Christian. Most recently he served concurrently at Dendron Christian Church, Union Christian Church and Lebanon Christian Church, all of the United Church of Christ. He also served locally at Hopewell Congregational Christian Church as the church organist. Rev. Smith was a recipient of the Pastor Emeritus Award in June of 2003. He was involved in the various communities that he lived in serving on the Hopewell Ministerial Association, past Prince George Emergency Crew Chaplain, and past member of the Ruritan Civic organization. Rev. Smith was an active member of Prince George Masonic Lodge #115. Although his heart and passion in life was in ministry, he believed as a citizen he could make a difference in the communities that he lived in, and looked for opportunities to get involved. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. Rev. Smith is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Lois E. Smith; sons, Cecil M. Smith and wife, Martha, I. Wayne Smith and wife, Robin, and Dr. Ernie J. Smith and wife, Barbara; a sister, Aretta Lassiter and husband, Charlie; eight grandchildren; and two great grandchildren. The family will receive friends at the Hopewell chapel of J. T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home on Wednesday, December 16, 2009 from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will follow on Thursday at 11 a.m. beginning with Masonic Rites in the funeral home chapel. Interment will take place in Merchants Hope Memorial Gardens, Prince George, VA. In lieu of flowers, the family request’s memorial contributions are made to the First Congregational Christian Church sign fund at P. O. Box 477, Hopewell, VA 23860, in memory of Rev. E. Cecil Smith. Condolences to the family may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com

Wayne and Family,
I am really sorry to hear about your Dad. John
told me some good things about him. I know what
you are going through I lost my dad in 1992. We all are praying for all of you'll

Posted by: vickie arnold at December 15, 2009 07:47 PM

Lois,
I am so sorry to hear of Cecil's death. When I first came to Eastern Virginia Association in 1980, Cecil welcomed me and took me in. I pastored Hunterdale at the time. Cecil was at every clergy meeting. He was active on the evangelism committee. If he said he would do something, he did it. I learned that I could depend on him. I truly appreciate Cecil as a frind and as a colleague.

Posted by: Walter S. Snowa at December 15, 2009 11:34 AM

Lois and family, I always enjoyed being with Cecil. He had a great sense of humor and was a true friend. He and Rev. Bruce Catron were very, very faithful in attending the regional gathering of UCC clergy in Suffolk and I always looked forward to seeing them. Cecil was an old faithful soldier of the Cross and now has received the reward he surely has earned. God bless you all. Michael

Posted by: Rev Michael D Halley at December 15, 2009 05:37 AM

To the Smith Family,
Please accept our deepest sympathy on the loss of your loved one. We acknowledge the sorry and grief you must feel at this time. However, it is our prayer that the life in which Rev. Smith led over the many years of global community service and his ability to have allowed Christ to be seen through his work, be of great comfort to you at this time.
Love in Christ,
Herman, Stella, Kimberly & Jonathan Edwards

Posted by: Stella & Herman Edwards at December 14, 2009 11:21 AM

Dear Louis@family,
we were so sorry to here that he pasted,
he was like an uncle to me he will be in our prays
we will miss him very much it will take time to heal but i know with the Lords help you will be strong bless you all he is playing music for the
angels to sing with now.

love your freinds
Angel@ David

Posted by: angel@david at December 14, 2009 10:37 AM

To the Smith family:
We want to express our sincere sympathy to all of you during this time of grief. Rev. Smith passed in peace to be with whom he served his entire life, our Lord. He has left such a legacy to you of what a Christian should possess. He would want you to now reflect on wonderful memories and good stories of bygone days and proud family gatherings around the table. We will be in prayer for you as you prepare for the next few days. Love in Christ to all of you,
Gay and Chuck Weston

Posted by: Gay Weston at December 13, 2009 08:45 PM