Obituary of William Smith

William Smith, son of the late Henrietta S. Smith and the late Henderson Smith, Sr, was born on June 24, 1955, in Middle River, Maryland. He departed this life on June 7, 2020, at his residence surrounded by family. William always encouraged those around him to simply be happy. In his last days, he'd always share how happy he was to see year 65, and he didn't care if his birthday hadn't quite made it yet. William is adoringly survived by his wife Geraldine Pearson Smith; daughter Tiffinee Danielle Smith; granddaughter McKinzee Yvonne Harris; two stepchildren Annie (Kyron) Thomas and Christopher (Tracy) Pearson; four step-grandchildren Jasmine Johnson, Kymaurie Thomas, Makayla Pearson, Caleb Pearson; three sisters Lucy Marshall, Barbara Smith and Thelma Smith; one brother David Smith; two brothers Henderson Smith, Jr, Russell Smith and one sister Jacqueline Marshall preceded him in death. He also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. William received his education in the Baltimore City Public School System and graduated from Patterson High School in 1973. William was also in Job Corps, where he learned the trade of welding. He was a determined man who didn't take no for an answer. William was so determined that even with a slight visual disability, he served in the Navy for a short period of time at which he earned an honorable discharge. In his younger years, William loved to swim, ride motorcycles, dance, and skate. William was well known throughout the city as the best high diver at Clifton Park Pool. William and his brother Russell were like movie stars diving side by side. After the military, William worked at Paps Distributing briefly. He spent the majority of his adult life as a machine operator for Monarch Rubber Company until he sustained a work-related injury. Smitty, as his long time coworkers and family called him, worked hard and found joy in working to provide for his family. William ALWAYS had a smile on his face, laughed loud, joked often, loved to sing, fed his birds daily, and always gave a helping hand, encouraging word, fought for his family, and LOVED to eat. He will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.