Mr. David Lewis Smith, 79, was born in Iredell County, N.C., on March 16, 1944, and was the son of the late David “Bill” Smith and Gertrude “Baby Doll” Kimbrough Smith. He departed this life on Sunday, October 29, 2023, at Iredell Memorial Hospital in Statesville, N.C., following an extended illness.
He was preceded in death by his siblings, Alfredia Smith, Peggy Ramsey, Elve Smith, James Robert Smith, and Jimmy Ferguson; brother-in-law, Audrey Ramsey; nephews, Dennis White, Craig White and Kenny Smith.
David was a graduate of Unity High School, Class of 1964. He retired from Hunt Manufacturing. He was a member of Davidsonville Baptist Church, where he served as President of the Senior Choir, as an Usher, member of the Trustee Board and a member of the Support Staff of Rutledge and Bigham Mortuary, Inc.
David leaves to cherish the memory of his life his sister, Margaret White of Statesville, N.C.; nieces, Tamar Mason and Anika White, both of Statesville; nephews, Shavon (Julie) White and Marcus White, both of Statesville; Keith (Janeen) White of Opa Locka, Fla., and Robert Smith and Gary Smith, both of Winston-Salem, N.C.; sister-in-law, Betty Smith of Winston-Salem, N.C.; and a host of great nephews, great nieces, cousins, special cousins, including, Mary “Babe” Patterson and Lajune Henry Turner; special friends, Wesley Davis, Stacey Cater and Kelly Stevenson; church members, other relatives and friends.
Rutledge & Bigham Funeral Home is serving the family.
I met David when I started working at Hunt Mfg. in Oct. of ’73. Over the next 16 years he would become a good friend. When I built my house in ’78 he was the first to say he would help lay shingles down on our roof. He spent a whole Saturday with Kathleen & myself & other guys from Hunt on our roof, putting down shingles to which none of us had ever done before. Then the next week every day after work he would come over and help out until the roof was finished. Now that’s a true friend. I lost track of David through the years but always think of him fondly as a friend. I miss the stories he could tell that would bring tears to the eyes from laughing so hard. My thoughts and prayers go out for him and his family. Rest easy my friend, you have earned your reward, we will take it from here.