...at Ease Soldier...

Willie Smith, JR. was born on March 28, 1945 in St. Louis, MO.  His mother and father Rev. Willie L. Smith, SR. and Carrie. Willy has two sisters Lawanna Chapman and Reverend Dr. Juanita Smith from Belleville, IL. One brother who preceded him in death in 2000 named Horace Smith.  Willie grew up in East St. Louis until the family moved to Kenosha in 1950, so that Willie's mother and father could take a job at American Motors Car Company.

Willie was very resourceful and very hard worker. He always had a job and money in his pocket from working at the docks on Lake Michigan. Willie first met Donnie in high school, at a football game. She was in the 9th grade and he was in the 12th grade.  While in high school he participated on the wrestling team.  After meeting and falling in love, Willie and Donnie dated for seven years but they broke up after Donnie went to college and Willie was drafted into the Air Force. Willie served in the Air Force for 22 years, then remarkably and after 35 years they met again and this time got married on March 23, 2002. Theirs was a match made in Heaven and even though in some ways they were opposites, they had so many things in common and they so enjoyed life together.  This union came change, they moved to Broken Arrow in 2008 to attend RHEMA and then after moved to Ukraine where they served as missionaries assisting Barry and Adrienne Jensen Rhema Missionaries in the Ukraine.

Willie and Donnie were the only two African Americans in that part of the Ukraine but they loved serving the people and the Jensen's. Willie's warm uncharacteristic greetings really changed the culture in Ukraine. When they arrived people there didn't speak to each other if they didn't know one another, Willie spoke to everyone regardless of who they were and soon everyone in that part of the Ukraine followed Willie's example!  He changed the CULTURE!!!

Even after his long illness Willie still had an amazing way of greeting people.  After developing Pneumonia, Willie went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, April 27, 2019 at the age of 74 years young. He was loved and will be missed by all.

He is survived by his loving wife Donnie, they were married for twenty years; four step children; Marcus Nash, Tommy Nash, Sarah Holland and Joshua Walker, he is also survived by two sisters, Lawanna Chapman of East St. Louis, IL; and Reverend Dr. Juanita Smith of East St. Louis, IL. Twin sons Byron and Myron Smith, daughter Bambie Smith, three grandsons, Caleb Joshua Smith, Aiden Smith, and Joey Smith, one step daughter Ashley Smith, his ex-wife Annette Smith as well as a host of grandchildren, nieces and nephews who loved him dearly.