My life began three days after Christmas, when I decided to make my grand entrance on December 28, 1973, to the proud parents Michael D. and Belinda [Clark] Smith, Sr., in Muskogee, Oklahoma. They chose to name me Marlon Desmond Smith, their second son.



After leaving the hospital, they took me home to meet the family. Oh, what a glorious day meeting my great-grandmother and big brother. Life was wonderful.



My family and I moved to Tulsa, where I first entered public school, later moving and joining the Oklahoma City public school system, where my big brother and I started playing football and baseball. We moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where I joined the Potter's House Ministries, under the leadership of Bishop T. D. Jakes. Being the man I was raised to be, I decided to spread my wings and see the world, so I moved to Atlanta, Georgia for a little while. I returned home, missing my family. I began working at McDonald's in Oklahoma City, moving up the chain.



My health began to fail, and I thought I should place my life into God's hands for Him to lead me; not being angry having poor health at such a young age. I knew He would see me through, whatever was wrong with me.



On January 2, 2015, in my 40th year, my Heavenly Father came to me with His arms open, saying "Son, come go with me, leave this sickly shell and come to Paradise, unknown to any living soul." So, I followed Him to join my great-grandparents; Julia Wallace, Julia [Hutton] Lyday and B. Lyday; my grandparents, Robert and Mary [Simpson] Clark, Melvin Smith and Naomi [Lyday] Stephens; my aunts, Sherri [Smith] Collins, Caldonia Murphy, Clarrece Waller; my niece, Nubia Smith and my nephew, Michael D. Smith, III.



I may be gone from sight of those who loved and will miss me; my mother, Belinda Smith, Fort Worth, Texas; my father, Michael D. Smith, Sr., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; my brothers, Michael [Reno] Smith, Jr., Kevin Smith and Catrey Smith, all of Oklahoma City; my uncles, Jerry Clark, Sr., William Clark, Keith Stephens and Reggie Simmons; my aunts, Juliett Logan, Bobbie Sells, Margaret Sells, Jenene Mason, Anita Jo Stephens, Donna Hamilton, Marcia McClarty and Randy McNac; my nephews who I loved so much, going to miss watching grow into men, Kyle Smith and Treyshawn Turner; along with a caravan of other relatives and friends.

The Final Hour with Marlon will be on Saturday, January 10, 2015 at 11:00 A.M. in the A. L. McKay Memorial Chapel, 1616 East 36th Street North in Oklahoma City. Reverend Willa Waller will officiate.

You may visit Marlon on Friday from 3:00 PM until 6:00 PM at the McKay-Davis Mortuary in Oklahoma City.