Obituary for Elbert Bohannon Smith
Elbert Bohannon Smith was born on October 26th, 1937, in Grenada, Mississippi to his Mother, Obelia Bohannon, and later his adopted Father William Smith. At the age of 9, Elbert moved to Cleveland, Ohio. He would graduate from East Tech High School in 1957, where he ran Track and took Chemistry, which inspired him to become a Doctor. After High School, Elbert worked with his dad William at the Basic Aluminum Casting Company for a few years before moving to Chicago, Illinois, where he then worked as a clerk for the Internal Revenue Service.
In 1962, Elbert was drafted into the United States Army, opting to enlist with the National Guard, where he was a Senior Pay Specialist and a Qualified Sharpshooter. Elbert was ordered to Active Federal Service in April of 1968 during the Democratic National Convention, and was honorably discharged later that June.
After working with the Internal Revenue Service for 3 years, Elbert left to enroll at the University of Illinois - Circle Campus (Now known as UIC) in 1965, while also now working for the United States Postal Service. He studied hard to complete his undergrad program, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences. In 1971, he was accepted into University of Illinois Medical School, and with years of hard work and overcoming adversities, he graduated from the program in 1977.
Elbert was the first Black resident at Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago, after which he completed his medical residency at Illinois Masonic Hospital. In 1980, he started a medical group called Excel Care, LTD. opening an office in The Garland Building on 111 Wabash Avenue and also worked at a Chicago Board of Health Clinic, and joined the Emergency Room staff at South Shore Hospital, while also being on staff at Illinois Masonic Hospital. Later, Dr. Smith opened his private practice at South Shore Hospital and continued to practice until age 77, when he became ill in 2015.
Dr. Smith leaves to mourn his wife of 35 years, Rosemary P. Smith and their son, Alexander B. Smith, his daughter (Who preceded him in death), Caiphia Bohannon Smith (Morrow), daughter Nedra Marie Smith, and son Elbert Bohannon Smith II, and their mother, Ruth Phillips, and 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren, along with many friends & colleagues, most notably his long-time secretary Jennifer Holman, and thousands of his loyal patients. Dr. Smith took his last breath on Friday, December 24th, 2021 at 7:07pm at the age of 84, closing the chapter for one of the most prolific physicians in Chicago Medical History. Dr. Smith was cremated, as requested.
In Lieu of Flowers, Please Help One Another, Get Vaccinated & Boosted!
The Family gratefully acknowledges with sincere appreciation the comforting thoughtfulness of the many friends and neighbors expressed through calls, cards and many acts of kindness, each of which will be acknowledged at a later date.
In 1962, Elbert was drafted into the United States Army, opting to enlist with the National Guard, where he was a Senior Pay Specialist and a Qualified Sharpshooter. Elbert was ordered to Active Federal Service in April of 1968 during the Democratic National Convention, and was honorably discharged later that June.
After working with the Internal Revenue Service for 3 years, Elbert left to enroll at the University of Illinois - Circle Campus (Now known as UIC) in 1965, while also now working for the United States Postal Service. He studied hard to complete his undergrad program, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences. In 1971, he was accepted into University of Illinois Medical School, and with years of hard work and overcoming adversities, he graduated from the program in 1977.
Elbert was the first Black resident at Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago, after which he completed his medical residency at Illinois Masonic Hospital. In 1980, he started a medical group called Excel Care, LTD. opening an office in The Garland Building on 111 Wabash Avenue and also worked at a Chicago Board of Health Clinic, and joined the Emergency Room staff at South Shore Hospital, while also being on staff at Illinois Masonic Hospital. Later, Dr. Smith opened his private practice at South Shore Hospital and continued to practice until age 77, when he became ill in 2015.
Dr. Smith leaves to mourn his wife of 35 years, Rosemary P. Smith and their son, Alexander B. Smith, his daughter (Who preceded him in death), Caiphia Bohannon Smith (Morrow), daughter Nedra Marie Smith, and son Elbert Bohannon Smith II, and their mother, Ruth Phillips, and 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren, along with many friends & colleagues, most notably his long-time secretary Jennifer Holman, and thousands of his loyal patients. Dr. Smith took his last breath on Friday, December 24th, 2021 at 7:07pm at the age of 84, closing the chapter for one of the most prolific physicians in Chicago Medical History. Dr. Smith was cremated, as requested.
In Lieu of Flowers, Please Help One Another, Get Vaccinated & Boosted!
The Family gratefully acknowledges with sincere appreciation the comforting thoughtfulness of the many friends and neighbors expressed through calls, cards and many acts of kindness, each of which will be acknowledged at a later date.