, ONE HUNDRED YEARS HISTORY: FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH SILER CITY NC May 17, 1889-May 17, 1989 by Murray M. Andrew (286.175659/A23) ' Page 53

Youth A (6, 7. and 8 grades) Superintendent Mrs. James F. Warfford Secretary Mrs. Murray Andrew Teachers:

6 grade boys 6 grade girls 7 ,8 grade boys 7 ,8 grade girls

Jesse Watts Mrs. Glenn Nicks Ed Marsh Mrs. Ed Marsh

Youth B (9- 12 grades) Secretaries: Mrs. Edward Blair

Mrs. I. G. Cross Dr. Paul Powell, Mrs. Paul Powell, Skeet Ayscue, Mrs. Skeet (Joe O'Neal) Ayscue

Teachers:

Ministers

Until 1962, no pastor had served the First Baptist Church of Siler City more than seven years. Rev. C.R. Smith, Jr. was called to pastor the church in 1962. He became the 23rd pastor called by the church, and is now in his 27th year of service.

Rev. Casper Rei Smith, Jr. 1925-

C. R. Smith, Jr., son of Casper Rei Smith, Sr. and Nora Ellison Smith, was born May 5, 1925, near Williamston, Anderson County, South Carolina, He was reared on a farm, began his education in Williamston, and graduated from Williamston High School in 1943.

C. R. Smith, Jr. was drafted into the army, during World War II, on April 28, 1944. He served in Europe on the battle line and soon found himself in charge of a squad ofinfantrymen. On Christmas day, December 25, 1944, Sgt. Smith and his squad of seven men were overrun by German troops. Those who survived were taken prisoner and placed in a POW camp. It was approximately three months before they were liberated by the American Forces.

Soon after being discharged from the Army, C. R. Smith, Jr. met and later married Miss Dorothy Ashley, May 30, 1946, in a home wedding in Williamston, South Carolina. Rev. and Mrs. Smith have one son, Randal Rei Smith, married to the former Janice Nelson. Mr. and Mrs. Smith live in Fort Myers, F1orida.

Mr. Smith received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Furman University in 1951. He began his Seminary studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas, later transferring to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, North Carolina, where he received the Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1957. He received his clinical pastoral training at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, during this time. In 1970, Rev. Smith completed work for the Master of Divinity degree at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Rev. Smith began his pastoral work at Sandy Springs Baptist Church, Pelzer, South Carolina in 1952. He pastored Bonlee Baptist Church, Bonlee, North Carolina, from 1954 to 1957, while he was attending school. From 1957 to 1960, he was pastoring the Haywood Avenue Baptist Church, Barnwell, South Carolina. ·

Rev. and Mrs. Smith went to Hawaii as missionaries, and Rev. Smith pastored the Kahului Baptist Church, Maui, Hawaii from 1960 to 1962.

Rev. Smith has served as moderator for the Sandy Creek Association for two years and served on the General Board of the North Carolina Baptist State Convention for four years. '

Tue many accomplishments noted in this chapter of the church history have come about with his outstanding leadership.

Rev. C. R. Smith, Jr.

On June 15, 1980, a Rev. C.R. Smith, Jr., and Family Appreciation Day was held. A regular worship servic presented with the Rev. Bruce Mciver delivering the sermon. A gift to the family was presented by John Glenn Mori Comments of love and appreciation were expressed by Glenn Phillips, Jr., Mrs. Thelma Meekins, Miss Melody Dosser Harold Jacobs, and Thomas J. Emerson.

In a special worship service June 28, 1987, Rev. and Mrs. C.R. Smith, Jr., were honored on their 25th anniv with the First Baptist Church. Remarks were given by Jack Arthur Moody, and a surprise gift, a trip to the Holy Lani presented by James E. Spence, ID.

Deacons

In a special conference on August 27, 1978, two changes were voted favorably by the congregation: the expansion of the Deacon nomination list to include all adult resident members; second, the six new de; each year would be elected from a list of the 12 top names nominated rather than 18, which had been the r to date.

1962 1969 1975 1982 Thomas Emerson Kendall Buckner David McCracken Mrs. Harold Allred Don Hart John Glenn Morris, Jr. Glenn Phillips Dr. Earl Parker Glenn Nicks Harold Poteat 1983

Kendall Cumbee 1963 1970 1976 John Franklin Grimes III Fred Brown Bruce Clark J.C. Bray Mrs. Thelma Meekins

Marshall MacDaniel 1964 1977 1984 Charles Davis 1971 Ronnie Brookbank David Hamm

Dalton Marsh Payne Collins Bill Long 1965 Bobby Sizemore Glen Russell 1978 1985 J. E. Spence III 1972 No new deacons Jack Moody Willis Whitehead David Jacobs Lewis Phillips Bryant Kennedy Charles Marsh 1979

Timothy Nance 1987 1966 1973 Leonard Smith Mrs. Jennie Bridgers Thomas Dossenbach Naman "Pete" Albright James D. Lane William Hilton James F. W arfford 1980

Mrs. Jack Brewer 1988 1967 1974 David Pollok Miss Sylvia Bums Cecil Budd Roy Jordan Dr. Paul Powell Byron Oldham

12.tl 1968 Bob Whittington Franklin Altman Garland Bray

Messengers to the Sandy Creek Association

1962 Rev. C.R. Smith, Jr., Mrs. C.R. Smith, Jr., Ullin Bivins, Ellihu Sloan, Mrs. L. P. Dixon, Mrs. Elwood Sharpe, Mrs. He Andrew

1963 Rev. C. R. Smith, Jr., Mrs. C. R. Smith, Jr., Ellihu Sloan, W. R. Fitts, Sr., Mrs. W. R. Fitts, Sr., Fred Paschal, Dalton B1 1964 Rev. C.R. Smith, Jr., Mrs. C.R. Smith, Jr., W.R. Fitts, Sr., Mrs. W.R. Fitts, Sr., Ellihu Sloan, Dalton Buckner, Fred P 1965 Rev. C. R. Smith, Jr., Mrs. C. R. Smith, Jr., W. R. Fitts, Sr., Mrs. W. R. Fitts, Sr., Fred Paschal, Dalton Buckner, Mrs. l

Dixon, Fred Brown, Mrs. Earl Fitts, Mrs. Lafayette Wrenn 1966 Rev. C.R. Smith, Jr., Mrs. C.R. Smith, Jr., Mrs. L. P. Dixon, Mrs. Herbert Andrew, Mrs. Harold Allred, W.R. Fitts, S•

W. R. Fitts, Sr., Fred Paschal, Dalton Buckner, Elwood Sharpe 1967 Rev. C. R. Smith, Jr., Mrs. C. R. Smith, Jr., W. R. Fitts, Sr .• Mrs. Frankie Warfford, Mrs. Harold (Marie) Jacobs, Mrs. f

Johnson 1968 Rev. C.R. Smith, Jr., Mrs. B. B. Buckner, Mrs. W. 0. Carter, Sr., Mrs. E. J. Johnson, Mrs. Byron Oldham 1969 Rev. C.R. Smith, Jr., Mrs. E. J. Johnson, W.R. Fitts, Sr., Mrs. W.R. Fitts, Sr., Dalton Buckner, Mrs. Byron Oldham 1970 Rev. C. R. Smith, Jr., Mrs. E. J. Johnson, Mrs. Byron Oldham, Mrs. L. P. Dixon 1971 Rev. C. R. Smith, Jr., Mrs. E. J. Johnson, Mrs. Byron Oldham, Mrs. Jack Brewer, Mrs. W. 0. Carter, Sr.

(State) (Date)

STA TE--"N_,__,,C"----

BAPTIST BIOGRAPHY DATA FORM

Please read carefully the Instruction Sheet and then list the appropriate information as it directs.

1. NAME Smith Jr . Casper --------,-,,---=-R:..,=e:-=i=--------- (Last) (First) (Second)

Give full names. For a married woman please put maiden name in parentheses.

2. BIRTH

DEATH _

3 PARENTS Casper Rei Smith, Sr. arid Nora Ellison Smith · ---------;r;-IE~XA~M~P~L~E:~A~lec~J~oe~D~oa~k-sa-nd~L~u-cy~M~a-e(=B-ro-wn~)~Do~ak~sJ,------------

F a ther' s occupation F_a_r_m_e_r____ Mother's occupation _ _,_H.uo.L1u..J .ois->=e'--"w'--i,_f'-'-e _

JEXAMPLE: Cole, Mary Ann (Srnith l.]

Williamston Anderson (Place) (County)

SC 5/5/25

4. BROTHERS (Living or deceased)

( l ) Number

List full names and year of birth _

Ellison Leon Smith 1939

5. SISTERS (3 ) List full names and year of birth (Living or deceased) Number

Belen Smith Johns 1927:Gladys Smith 8all,1929;Ethel Smith Caldwell;l933

6. CHILDHOOD RESIDENCE: (Please list each residence of 3 years duration or more, up to the time of the 18th birthday)

Type of Community Post Office County State Dates Rural (R); town under 2500 pop. (Tl; city 2500 or more pop. (C). Check one.

RO RD RD RD

TD TD TD TD

CD Williamston Anderson SC 1925-1944 ---------- ------------- c D -------- ------- ----- c D ------ ------- ------ ---- c D -------- ------- -----

7. EDUCATION: Grammar school: Graduate? Yes ( x) No ( High school: Graduate? Yes ( x) No (

School attended: Wi 11 j amsrRage) High

Year graduated ----=l'--'9'-'3=--..;9;:_ _ Year graduated -~1._.9~g"'--=-3 _

SC (State)

(Whether graduate or not; if more than one was attended. show the last one.)

College: Years attended: None ( ) One ( ) 2-3 ( Whether graduated or not, list college(s) attended:

Graduate ( ) (EXAMPLJlC 19:!5-"38)

Furman University Greenville S.C. 1947-51 BA (Name) (Place) (State) (Years attended) ~('°"D,.....eg_r_ee.,..) ---

Sou th eastern Seminary Wake Forest ~C 1954-57 ~M....._.,D~I~V'--'----- (Name) (Place) (State) (Years attended) (Degree)

Graduate-level: List college(s), seminary(ies), etc. attended; earned degrees (Name) (Place) (State) (Years attended) (Degree)

(Position) (Organization, board, agencv, etc. I 1Stat<'I 1Datd

8. SPECIAL A WARDS OR RECOGNITION RECEIVED: (Honorary degrees, such as: D.D., Howard College, 1948; citations, such as: Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities, 1939; honorary positions, such as: "Man of the Year"-Pryor, Okla., 1943; etc.)

9. MARITAL INFORMATION: Rirthdate of Spouse

Date of Marriage

(1) D (2L-~~~~~~~~~-l--~~~~-+-~~~~~~~-t-~~~~-

Place ol Marriage (Town and Stale)

Number of children ( 1 ). List their full names and birthdates: (an example of a married --daughter would be: Mrs. John Alan (Mary Lou) Ross, 3-7-1918)

Randal Rei Smith 10/11/58

10. VOCATIONAL HISTORY (List all vocations, occupations, trades, or professions engaged in for two or more years) Minister

11. RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE: Conversion 1938 13 Baptism 1938 t~aar Grove Bapt .Williamston,SC.

(Date) (Age) (Date) (Church) (Location of Church)

List any church, other than Baptist, with which formerly affiliated Ordained as: Minister ( Deacon ( ) Other ,_,_N=o~n'"""e"-------------

(Date ordamed) (Church) (Place) (State)

12. LOCAL CHURCH ACTIVITY, UNSALARIED (Place the number of years service, in the space provided, for each office ever held.)

Gen. Supt., Dept. Supt., Teacher, List below other Other Offices Director, Director, Counselor, offices or service, (gi,·e number of vears service) President Circle Chm. Sponsor, such as: Sec.,

Leader Assoc. Supt., etc. Deacon Ch. Treas. - Trustee Ch. Library -

Usher Ch. Hecreation __

S.S. Ch. Clerk - Choir Mem. - Other - Choir Direc. --

T.U. Ch. Committee Chm. -

V.B.S. List completed Study Course diplomas (Indicate related organizations, ~uch as: S.S., T.U .. et c.)

Broth.

W.M-U.

13. DENOMINATIONAL SERVICE, UNSALARIED. (Please list positions held in Baptist associations, conventions (state or Southern), national and world-wide organizations, such as; moderator, president, clerk, trustee, board, commission or committee members; etc.) Example: S.S. Superintendent Bethel Association Kentucky 1~)42-1944

-'--M:...::oc...:d=-e=r-=a=-t=-o=-=r -'S=:a n d y Creek Ass o . Executive Bapt.St.Convention ---------------'

N(_ _l 964-65 NC 1967-71? ------

·------ -----

14. TO BE FILLED OUT ONLY BY THOSE WHO ARE, OR HA VE BEEN, IN SAL­ ARIED CHURCH-RELATED VOCATIONS. (Including pastors, denominational work­ ers, missionaries, ministers of education and music, church secretaries, faculty members or employees of Baptist institutions, agencies, etc.) TYPE AND LENGTH OF SERVICE: List all positions of such service with one or more years of duration; check F (full-time) or P (part-time). Examples:

(Posit ion I (Church, agencv, area, institution, place of service) (Date of service)

FD F0 FL] F [X] F Ll F~ F [] FD FD FD FD FD FD FD

P 0 1. pastor County Line Baptist Church, Turkey Creek, La. 1925-1929 -~'-----

p D 2. m1ss10nary Ogbomosho, Nigeria, W. Africa 1930-1952

P D Pastor

PD Pastor

P 0 Pastor

PD Pastor p D Pastor

P D ------------------- ---- P D ----- p o ------------------ ---- PO ----------------------- p [] ------ -------------- ----- p D · __ ------------------- ----- PD

Sandy Spri~ Pelzer SC 1952-54

Bonlee Rapt Bonlee NC 1954 57

_._H..,.a""g'9-'o"""""'-o_,,,d.___._A..wv._,e~~B~a"""p~t~~B~a~r~n~w~e~l .i ~S~C _._J 9 5 7 6 Q

Kahului Ba~t. Maui Hawaii 1960-62 First Bapt. Siler City NC 1962-present ----~'---------~~------

15. OTHER TYPES OF RELIGIOUS SERVICE: (In associations, assemblies, colleges, con­ ventions (state or Southern), national or world-wide meetings, such as: speaker, music director, committee chairman, etc.)

t Posit ion , (Place of Service) (Date of Service)

16. AUTHORSHIP (Include books, booklets, lesson courses or curriculum material, and tracts) (Book, item. etc.) r Puhlisher) (Date published)

17. CLUB OR GROUP MEMBERSHIP: (Service organizations, fraternal, P.T.A., Civic, etc.) List important positions of leadership held

18. HOBBIES AND LEISURE INTERESTS: Favorite Woodw.o.i::J< _ Others _

19. PUBLIC SERVICE: (Military, educational, political, etc. not previously listed) _ Military 1943-45

-- -·-- ~-- ----

. '

The information for items #1-19 has been filled in by Casper Rei Smith, Jr. Mailing address314 N. Second Ave Sil er City NC 2 73.4A _

Sources used in compiling the information are: (Example: personal knowledge; minutes, Cal- vary Baptist Church, Wisner, La.; Court Records, Copiah County, Miss.; etc.)

Personal knowledge

D 0 Y 0 U HAVE LETTERS, DIARIES, PHOTOGRAPHS, OR OTHER MEMENTOES???? The Baptist Historical Collection would like to have this material or be allowed to photocopy such items for permanent preservation here in the Collection. We establish personal collections by the name of the donor. Any donated materials relating to the life and endeavors of our N .C. Baptist pastors and denominational leaders will be preserved for future generations of Baptists. Too often in our highly mobile society these items are thrown away or hastily discarded. They should be preserved. Let us know if we can assist you with the preservation of your personal papers. Phone (919) 825-9711, extention 277 collect.

CASPER REI SMITH, JR.

JUN 18 1970 S, SILER CITY, N. C.

Rev. C~ R. SmUh receives Mailer of Divinity degree RPv. C. R. Smith, pastor of the Siler

City First Baptist Church, has been a­ warded his""M!l!!'ter of Divinity degree by the Southeastern Baptist Seminary at W ake Forest. Rev. Smith received his Bachelor of

Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theo­ logical in January of 1957 and since that time has taken part time classes in order to earn his Masters degree. Rev. Smith completed his eighth year

with the First Baptist Church of Siler City during this past week and the grant­ ing of his degree came almost at the time of his completion of eight years as pastor of First Baptist. Sunday, June 21, will be designated as

"Pastor's Day" in First Baptist. The congregation is planning a special "thank you" for Rev. Smith and his tamily. Members of the the church have do­

nated money for sending Rev. Smith and his family to The Baptist World Alliance which will be held in Tokyo, Japan in July. Rev. and Mrs. Smith and Randall expect to be gone for three to four weeks on their trip as delegates from The First Baptist Church of Siler City.

Mrs. C. R. Smith is selected as Teacher of Year Mrs. Dorothy Ashley Smith has been

selected by the executive committee of the local North Carolina Association of Educators and the Association of Classroom Teachers to represent Chatham County for the National Teacher of the Year award in 1974. Mrs. Smith has been teaching the fifth

grade at Paul Braxton School since 1962. She is active in professional, civic and religious activities. Her husband is the Rev; C. R. Smith., pastor of the First Baptist Church of Siler City. The Teacner or the Year -award

program is sponsored by the Encyclo­ pedia Brittanica, the Council of Chief State School Officers, and the Ladies Home Journal magazine.

SeJma: Johnstonian-Sun Shallotte: Brunswick Beacon Shelby: Cleveland Times Siler City: Chatham News

-smiftif1e1a Herald Snow Hill: Greene Co. L~gf

/o -.cf- 73/

CLIPPING SERVICE 1115 HILLSBORO

RALEIGH. NC 27603 TEL. (919) 833 -2079

CHATHAM COUNTY HERALD

PITTSBORO, N. C.

JUN~l 1-80

THE CHATHAM COUNTY HERALD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE II, I~

Rev. C.R. Smith and family honored The Rev. C.R. Srnuh Jr. and his Iamil, wil!

be honored Sund av J unc 15 for 18 vcars or service to the Firs! Baptivt Church or Siler C1- ty.

Rev. Smith is the 23rd pastor 10 serve ihc fir'>! Baptist Church, bccinninu hi' callinu in Siler City in 1962. - - -

A native of Anderson County, S.C.. he entered the military 'en ice in World War 11 at the age of 18. During the two year' he vcrv - ed. he fought in Europe and wa-, a prisoner of war for three months in Gerrnanv.

Soon alter bcinu discharucd i1e met and later married Do;othy Asliley, "ho wa-, beginning her career as a school teacher. The Smiths no" have one son, Randal. age 21.

Rev. Smith received his Bachelor of Art-, Degree from Furman Univcrvity, Greem ilk. S.C. He began hi' seminary <tudic-, at southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Fort Worth, Texas, later transferrinu 10 Southeastern Baptist Theological, i·akc Forest, where he received his Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1957.

He received clinical pastoral training at Duke and 111 1970 completed work updaiinu l~i'> degree lo Master of Di,inity a~ Southcasrhern Seminary.

Prior 10 conung 10 Siler City. Re'. Smith 'en eel as pa-t or for Sa nth Spring' Church in Pcl/cr , S.( .: Bonlce llap11s1 Church; Hagood A1-c. Baptist Chruch 111 Haruwcl). S.( .: and Kahului Baptist C hurch, \laui. Hawaii.

He has served as moderator for two vcar­ for the Sa11d1· Creek Avvociation and ,en cd on ihc General Board or the Bap1i,1 S1a1e Convention of North Carolina for four vcarv.

under his Icadcrship ihc folltming la'>k'> have been accomplished h\ Firs! Bapll'>I ( hurch in Siler City:

Construction of the cducuuonal huilding ; new ligh1ing, pew cushion' and carpc·1ing of t hc saucturarv; remodeling or Icllowvhip hall and ~i1dicn; dccora11ng and rurnishin!! 1hc' church parlor. bride·, room and youlh room: and mn'>I impor1an1. 1hrough his 101,· and dedica11on. many ,oul' h;nc bel.'n 11011 10 Chris!.

Highligh1ing Sunday's apprccia11on '>l'fl ic·c· 11 ill he a piano prelude' b\ Nancy Oldham. a wckome and "riplure reading h\ John \lor­ ri,, and comments or Jo, c and apprl.',·1a11011 from Glenn Phillip,, Jr. (for Randall. Thelma \lcl'kin' (!"or Do11ic Srni1hl and Melody Do.,.,cnbach. Harold .lacohs and Thomas Emcr,on. for 1hc Re1c1·c11d.

l:::nl fills "ill i111roducc the speaker. 1he Rei. Bruce :'l.khcr ol 1hc \\'ilshirc llapli'>t Church in Dalla,.

Scning t>n the apprecia1ion day conrn1i1tec were: Mr'>. Jae~ Ilrc11cr. \layor Cecil Budd. Mrs. T.A. Burns, Mr\. Tom l)o.,.,enhach. Thoma' Emcr\011. \tr,_ T.H. (irimc). l\h. Sand\ Harri\, Syhes1cr l\khcr. Dallon Mar\h, John Morris, Mr\. Tim Nanc·c, Jcrn Phillip'>.

\ \ '

Dottie & C.R. Smith

CLIPPING SERVICE 1115 HILLSBORO

RALEIGH, NC 27603 TEL. (919) 833·2079

CHATHAM NEWS SILER CITY, N. C.

TH-3,658

-Mrs. and Rev. C.R. Smith

First Baptist Special "Appreciation Day" services

will be held at the Siler City First Baptist Church Sunday; June 15 at 11 a.m., in honor df Rev. C. R. Smith and family Rev. Bruce Mciver of Wilshire Baptist

Church, Dallas, Texas will be the speaker for the special services. Rev. Mciver is a native of Siler City and the son of Mrs. J. S. Mciver and the late Mr. J. S. Mciver. Rev. C. R. Smith, Jr. is beginning his

'\ 19th year at the First Baptist Church and is the 23rd pastor to serve the local

. church. . f And 1 Rev. Smith is a native o erson

County, South Carolina where he li~ed until entering the military service during World War II at the age of 18. During his two year tour of duty he served and fought in the European Theatre and was

1 a prisoner of the Germans for three months before being liberated by Allied Forces. After leaving the military he attended

and received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. During this time he met and later married Dorothy Ashely who was beginning her career as a school teacher. The Smiths have one son, Randal, age

21.

Rev. Smith began his Seminary studies al Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary at Fort Worth, Texas, lat_er transferring to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary at Wake Forest, where he received his Bachelor of Divinity in 1957. He received his clinical pastoral

training al Duke University. In 1970 Rev. Smith completed work updating his degree to Master of Divinity at Southeastern Seminary. Prior to accepting the pastorate of

First Baptist Church Rev. Smith pastored at Sandy Springs Bapti_st Church in Pelzer, S. C., Bonlee Baptist Church in Bonlee, Hagood Avenue Baptist Church in Barnwell, S.C. a~? Kahului Baptist Church in Maui, Hawau He has served as moderator for the

Sandy Creek Association for two years and served on the General Board of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina for four years. Under the leadership of Rev. Smith for

the past 18 years, Siler City First Baptist Church as constructed an educational building, and has done extensive remodeling and decorating in other areas of the church. Following the special services in honor

of Rev. Smith and his family a covered

dish luncheon will be held in the church fellowship hall. All members and visitors are welcomed.

C. R.

has served

City. Mr.

June 1962.

year which

Casper R. Smith, Jr.

Smith, Jr. is the 23rd pastor who

the First Baptist Church in Siler

Smith was called to this church in

He is beginning his nineteenth

is more years than any other pastor

has served here.

Mr. Smith grew up in Anderson County,

South Carolina where he lived until he went

into military service in World War II at the

age of eighteen. During the two years he

served he fought in Europe and was a prisoner

of war for three months in Germany. Soon

after being discharged he met and later married

Dorothy Ashley who was beginning her career

as school teacher. The Smiths have one son,

Randal, Age 21.

Mr. Smith received his Bachelor of Arts

Degree from Furman University, Greenville,

South Carolina. He began his Seminary studies

at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary,

Forth Worth, Texas, later transferring to South­

eastern Baptist Theological, Wake Forest, North

Carolina, where he received his Bachelor of

Divinity in 1957. He received his clinical

pastoral training at Duke University, Durham,

North Carolina during this time. In 1970, Mr.

Smith completed work updating his degree to

Master of Divinity at Southeastern Seminary.

Previous churches that Mr. Smith has

pastored are: Sandy Springs, Pelzer, South

Carolina; Bonlee Baptist Church, Bonlee, North

Carolina; Hagood Avenue Baptist Church, Barnwell,

South Carolina; and Kahului Baptist Church, Maui,

Hawaii.

He has served as moderator for two years for

the Sandy Creek Association and served on the

General Board of the Baptist State Convention

of Nor~h Carolina for four years.

Under his leadership the following have been

some of our Church's accomplishments:

Construction of Educational Building;

New lighting, pew cushions, and

carpeting of sanctuary;

Remodeling of Fellowship Hall and kitchen;

Decorating and furnishing of Church Parlor,

Bride's Room, and Youth Room;

and most important--through his love and

dedication, many souls have been won to

CHRIST, OUR LORD AND SAVIOR.

nepncws, uncles, other relatives. will be held October 31at6 p.m

( d;11 . A ~~.~!~~~ p~~!~~~.'~i~~cle' man There is only one way to describe ca~cer, Smith said. I ~o i:iot know 1r:::~7f:Bllllllllllll the -~1 properly _ "a whic~ o~e healed or if it was a il

man of miracles." combination of all three. Smith, [Q~ly pastor of the . "All ~ know is that once I was

Fi~st Baptist Church of Siler City sick with cancer but now I have from 1962 until his retirement in been well for forty five years ... I 1992, has written a pamphlet about count the healin& a miracle." . his life and the miracles which he By 1955, Smith was preachmg has experienced. He lists at least part time at Bonlee Baptist Church. 10! He completed his degree at South· "This book tells the story of a eastern Seminary and accepted a

man who was called of God to call to Hapgood A venue Baptist serve as a pastor after he was a Church in Barnwell, S.C. in Febru­ farmer and soldier," Smith wrote in ary of 1957. his pamphlet. "His life had many miracles from the hand o.f God." Along his way, Smith was a

soldier in WWII and a prisoner of war for three months. He and 360 other prisoners had spent eight days locked in a boxcar before the con­ quering Americans rescued them. The Nazi attempt to remove the evidence of their cruel inhumanity from falling 'into liberators" hands did not have time to be ac­ complished, as the invading Allied troops stormed into Germany. Three of the miracles Smith

claims happened, did so within minutes when a German soldier tried to kill him three times. On Christmas Eve 1944, Sergeant

Smith led his platoon onto a road filled with German vehicles. The squad had rifles and little else. Smith was directed by his captain

to an abandoned house. When the Germans attacked the house, the German point man was killed trying to enter the front door by a guard Smith had posted. Smith and his squad crawled out

a back window and went into a woodshed behind the soon-to-be­ burning house. Germans called for them to surrender. "During this time," Smith wrote,

"I was standing on a chair looking out the window. As I looked down at the ground, I saw a German soldier with his rifle pointed at me. "Before I could move, he fired a

shot. I fell backward." Smith was only grazed. "This same German threw a hand

grenade at the open door of the shed," Smith continued. "It did not explode as it was supposed to. "Then the German shot at the

grenade with his rifle. It still did not explode. "This was three times within a

few minutes that I could have been killed." Smith counts that as three of his

miracles. He was taken a prisoner of war

on Christmas Day. Near starvation and unspeakable

conditions were day-to-day life and death at the concentration camp to which he was sent. When he was liberated, he was

but a shell of his former self, but at least, he had survived. Smith believed it was for a higher pur­ pose .. Following hospitalization, Smith

was sent back to the states for rest and recovery. While recovering, he met and fell

in love with Dorothy Ashley, soon to be his beloved wife, Dottie. It was shortly thereafter that

Smith was called by God to go into the ministry. He enrolled at Furman University in Greenville, S.C., graduating in 1951. Southwest Baptist Theological

Seminary in Ft. Worth was the next stop for the Smiths. He was discovered to have cancer

while in seminary. He was a 27- year-old student studying for the ministry, preaching where and when he could and trying to sup­ port himself and a wife by ,. ·•-~ ev ~r means were available. f-ouowing surgery, Smith had 33

radiation treatments in the next six weeks "I had surgery, radiation, and the

/

CLIPPING SERVI.CE 1115 HILLSBORO

&v. ~'?.~ CHA lrlA1v\ k_~

PITTSBORO, N. c. TH-1,582 c I ~ ' Svvl\ nn

OCT OfJ 98

Dottie. and C.R. adopted their son; Randal; in December of 1958 in Columbia, S.C. Mission work in Kahului, Hawaii

came in 1960. In May of 1962, the family returned to the mainland and soon thereafter, the call to become pastor of the Siler City church came. The Smiths would remain for ,. 30 years. · · "Dottie has been very supportive

in everything I've ever done," Smith said in March, just before they packed up and moved to their retirement home, near their son in Florida.

His wartime experience strength­ ened his faith.

"My mother prayed for me when I was a POW," he said. "She didn't believe I was dead. "She had a peace when others

were unsure about me, The Rev. C.R. Smith, formerly pastor at Siler City's First Baptist Church, "She said she was going to hear has left for a retirement home in Florida. However, he leaves a rich leg:Jcy

something about me by Easter." 'to those who knew him and is an inspiration to all. Smith says no fewer Her faith was rewarded as she· than 10 miracles have happened to him, including nearly being killed three

received word exactly at that time times within minutes in WWII in Germany. · about her son. [j The 1954 cancer brought Smith's An~- is ~till doing the last one, .

faith even more into focus. . even 1~ r~urem.ent. . . , "Farmer, soldier, preacher ... " is Flonda s gam was ~Iler City s

what Smith called himself. loss when he and Dottie m~de ~he He did all of them to his best move. But their legacy will hve

ability. ~ long afterward.

Milburn Gibbs photo Smith recounts miracles in his life ...