Rev. Carl Stanley Smith Sr

November 10, 1955 - April 9, 2020

Carl S. Smith, Sr. was born November 10, 1955 in St. Louis, MO. to the Union of the late Dewitt Smith, Jr. and Lula Mae Smith both of whom preceded him in death. He was the 4th of 5 children, his youngest brother Timothy P. Smith preceded him in death. Carl received his education in the St. Louis Public, Compton, CA Public School Systems. Carl attended Peabody and Duvall Elementary Schools in St. Louis, Missouri, then moved to Compton, CA where he attended Enterprise Junior High and Dominguez High School. Upon returning to St. Louis, Carl attended Soldan High School but soon transferred to the Legendary Charles H. Sumner High School! At Sumner High he was a student athlete who participated in varsity track and field, cross country and wrestling. He graduated in 1974. Carl was an esteemed Alumni and proud to be a bulldog he recently served as reunion president. Carl continued his education at the University of Missouri of St. Louis where he met a beautiful undergraduate by the name of Geraldine Horton who would later become his wife, he finished his education at Webster University earning a bachelor’s of science degree in Theology. Carl was baptized at an early age at First Baptist Church in St. Louis, MO. located at Cardinal and Bell. While there he served as an usher, was a part of the children’s choir and was a boy scout. Carl remained a member for many years, he became a licensed minister there under the leadership of Rev. Lawrence McKinney on April 10, 1983. He later became a member of New Northside Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Bishop Willie J. Ellis, Jr. On April 3, 1988, while under the leadership of Bishop Ellis, Carl received his certificate of ordination. Carl would become a pastor first pastoring Christian Union, Morning Star M.B. Church and in 1998 he founded New Beginning M.B. Church where he served proudly as pastor until his passing on April 9, 2020 at Barnes Jewish Hospital. In the early 1970’s, Carl served as a police reservist. He had a daytime job and had to donate 20 hours a month to the department exercising all the powers of a police officer, but without the pay. It was a way for people to decide whether police work was for them. Carl later joined the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Academy and he became a full-time officer in 1978 serving the city’s Legendary Eighth District in North St. Louis. In June of 1982 while patrolling the 8th district Officer Smith was on Duty when he pulled over a beautiful young woman driving down Prairie Avenue making a left turn on Natural Bridge. He knew this young woman’s car, it was Geraldine Horton, his classmate from UMSL and he pulled her over not for a ticket or because she was in distress, but because he wanted her phone number and wanted to take her out on a date! Six months later on Dec. 31, 1982, Carl proposed to Geraldine and on June 11, 1983 they married. To their Union they had four beautiful children Nia Brandon Smith, Hope Eternity Smith who preceded him in death, Erica Denise Smith, and Carl Stanley Smith, Jr. In the 90’s he became a Juvenile Detective and worked in the St. Louis Metropolitan School system with the W.A.R program (We Are Responsible). He was Affectionately known as Big Smitty! His longtime partner Rodney Smith said that “Carl didn’t think of kids as being little delinquents, He thought of them as human beings like everyone else in need of a future.” During his time in Juvenile he had two young men that he held dear to his heart a gentleman named Kool-Aid and a young man Alfredo Collins who both preceded him in death. Under the supervision of Charles Burton, Carl was enlisted as one of the founding members of the Gang Unit in St. Louis as gang activity began to rise in the St. Louis region. Carl would visit and lecture in many schools, churches and community events on signs of gang involvement or gang presence. Carl served as a Juvenile Detective until his retirement in 2001 after serving an amazing 22 years. After retirement Carl remained engaged with the department as a member of the St. Louis Police Officers Association, a proud member of the Ethical Society of Police, an esteemed Chaplain for The Woodson Terrace Police Dept. and the President of the St. Louis Association of Retired Police Officers. Carl may have retired but labor and service didn’t stop there: Pastor Smith was a member of the Berean District Association, Finance Secretary for St. Louis Metropolitan and Vicinity Ministers Union, 1st Vice President of the Clergy Coalition of Greater St. Louis, former Treasurer of the Missionary Baptist State Convention of Missouri(MBSCM) and a member of the St. Louis Old Tymers. According to Carl’s wife Gerri, Carl always had a heart for the people! In the early nineties Carl partnered with long time friend and brother James Clark to provide security for the Midnight Basketball Program at WOHL recreation center. It is said that during that time there was no gang violence on the streets of St. Louis. Carl later teamed up again with Clark under the leadership of Malik Ahmed, Founder and CEO of Better Family Life to participate in the Pulpit to Porches Program. This program enlisted many churches to meet the mission of joining neighborhoods and churches together to meet the needs of the community. Carl continued to recruit pastors not only from Missouri but also Illinois who were committed to community outreach. In an effort to address gun violence in the city of St. Louis, Better Family Life initiated the Gun De-Escalation Program where Carl served as the Lead Mediator with the assistance of Jerome Dyson and Rydell Dennis both former St. Louis Metropolitan Police Detectives. Pastor Carl loved working with the Community Outreach Team who taught him so much and affectionately called him Mr. MY MY MY! Carl and the team mediated over 130 cases that were resolved without violence. Carl leaves to cherish his Memory his Wife Geraldine Smith (Horton), Three Daughters ~ Carlandria Mageth Hill (Korre) Nia Brandon Smith, and Erica Denise Smith. One Son ~ Carl Stanley Smith, Jr., and a Grand Dog Duke Ali Smith. A loving and devoted father-in-law, Mr. Jerry L. Horton. Two Brothers ~ Rev. Benard Blount, and Henry Blount (Sinnie). One Sister ~ Vanessa Smith. Three Nephews ~ Eric Lamont Smith (Jacqueline) Henry Bradford Blount Jr., and Jedidiah Isaiah Amica. Three Nieces ~ Daphne Blount, Angela Blount, Ila Blount, and Bernadette Blount. A God-Son ~ James Thomas, Jr. One God Granddaughter ~ De’Aire Lashelle Green. Two close childhood friends from Kindergarten ~ Sydney Hazlett (Jeanette), and Lavon Perkins (Audrey). A host of very close cousins, relatives, special friends, co-workers, all the friends he brutally beat at chess, and his New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church Family. Days before his passage from labor to reward he shared with his beloved son and wife that like his late mother-in-law Verdie D. Horton he lived a great life! And that he did!