Obituary for Raymond Smith
Raymond Smith was born on June 24, 1955 in Chicago, Illinois. He was the third of four children born to Edward and Dorothy Smith. Raymond accepted Christ at an early age.
Raymond nicknamed “Hi-Fi” received his education in the Chicago Public School System attending Beale Grammar School and Dunbar High School. He received a basketball scholarship and attended Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree.
While attending Philander he pledged Omega Psi Phi fraternity. When he returned to Chicago, he associated with Nu Pi Tenth District. He loved his fraternity and always looked forward to initiating new pledgees attending the conclaves every 2 years.
It was during his educational pursuits at Philander Smith College where he met and married Faye Reed. They were married and to that union two children were born, Clarissa Christine and Brittany Faye. He also had another daughter Sherri.
Raymond worked in the banking industry for a while and then went into the mortgage banking business. He worked at various mortgage companies and eventually started his own mortgage company. He later retired.
On November 4, 1994 Raymond was joined in Holy Matrimony to Janise Harris. They enjoyed traveling to different destinations each year in addition to driving back and forth to Arkansas to visit college classmates and picking up the grandkids for the summer.
Raymond will be remembered for his gift of gab and his good sense of humor. He was always the life of the party.
Raymond was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in 2012 and was later diagnosed in August 2019 with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Raymond departed this life on Friday April 30, 2021 peaceably at home. He is now at peace and the family is comforted by the knowledge that he is no longer suffering or in pain and is with his Father in heaven.
Raymond leaves to celebrate his life: his wife of 26 years Janise Harris-Smith (Jay); daughters, Clarissa Christina (CeCe), Brittany Faye (Brit), and Sherri; granddaughters, Trinity Rayanne (Trin) and Maesyn; grandson, Matthew McKing; great granddaughter Toni; his mother, Dorothy Smith; brother Edward L. Smith Jr (Anseline); Sisters Alexis, Evalyn and Edwina; special friends Marvin “Bud” Nolan (Wanda) and Larry Griffo (Joyce); and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends. Raymond was preceded in death by his father Edward L. Smith Sr and grandson Xzavier Zakief Smith.
Raymond nicknamed “Hi-Fi” received his education in the Chicago Public School System attending Beale Grammar School and Dunbar High School. He received a basketball scholarship and attended Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree.
While attending Philander he pledged Omega Psi Phi fraternity. When he returned to Chicago, he associated with Nu Pi Tenth District. He loved his fraternity and always looked forward to initiating new pledgees attending the conclaves every 2 years.
It was during his educational pursuits at Philander Smith College where he met and married Faye Reed. They were married and to that union two children were born, Clarissa Christine and Brittany Faye. He also had another daughter Sherri.
Raymond worked in the banking industry for a while and then went into the mortgage banking business. He worked at various mortgage companies and eventually started his own mortgage company. He later retired.
On November 4, 1994 Raymond was joined in Holy Matrimony to Janise Harris. They enjoyed traveling to different destinations each year in addition to driving back and forth to Arkansas to visit college classmates and picking up the grandkids for the summer.
Raymond will be remembered for his gift of gab and his good sense of humor. He was always the life of the party.
Raymond was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in 2012 and was later diagnosed in August 2019 with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Raymond departed this life on Friday April 30, 2021 peaceably at home. He is now at peace and the family is comforted by the knowledge that he is no longer suffering or in pain and is with his Father in heaven.
Raymond leaves to celebrate his life: his wife of 26 years Janise Harris-Smith (Jay); daughters, Clarissa Christina (CeCe), Brittany Faye (Brit), and Sherri; granddaughters, Trinity Rayanne (Trin) and Maesyn; grandson, Matthew McKing; great granddaughter Toni; his mother, Dorothy Smith; brother Edward L. Smith Jr (Anseline); Sisters Alexis, Evalyn and Edwina; special friends Marvin “Bud” Nolan (Wanda) and Larry Griffo (Joyce); and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends. Raymond was preceded in death by his father Edward L. Smith Sr and grandson Xzavier Zakief Smith.