Obituary of Lee D. Smith

Lee Dell Smith, son of the late Minnie Belle Robinson and Zeb Smith departed this life on February 7, 2025, at home.   Lee attended Booker T. Washington High School in Clarkton, North Carolina. He accepted Christ at an early age and later rededicated his life to the Lord. He was baptized at White Creek Baptist Church in North Carolina. He later relocated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the age of seventeen.   Lee Smith was a pharmacist technician at Smith Kline in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. and retired at age 55. He loved his family and enjoying taking his children to the park in their youth. Baseball was his passion and as children, we were required to watch it and the news. “You’ll never know what is going on in the world if you don’t watch the news.” he would chide. Dad enjoyed attending the family reunion every two years.   Dad was a stern father whose love was seen in the manner in which he cared for his family and his helpfulness to those in need.   He met the love of his life through Lonnie Smith, his cousin/brother. He and Marion Gay was married at an early age and remained together until her death.   Lee was preceded in death by his wife, Marion Gay-Smith; three siblings: Wilkie Blue (James), Cad Vance Smith (Bertha), Vernell Atkinson (James), and son, Anthony Battallio.   He leaves to cherish his memory siblings: Ethel Johnson, Marie Liles (Abram), Van Smith, and Ronnie Smith (Diane); children: Charles Battallio (Linda), Sharon Hill (Thomas), Karen Brown (Kenny), Darryl Smith, Keith Smith (Bridget), grandchildren and a host of great grands, great- great grands, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Also, his special friend, Doris Hargrove.   Although our father is no longer here, his lessons of life and loving ways will be with us always and have become a part of the heritage we share with our children.