Roosevelt Smith was born on January 2, 1939, in Marion Junction, Alabama, to the late Tom Smith and Willie Ann Craig Smith. At an early age, he confessed to Christ and became a lifelong member of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Marion Junction. However, after attending New Bethlehem Baptist Church for several years, in 2013 Roosevelt renewed his faith and was rebaptized by Rev. Dr. William H. Walker. Roosevelt received his education in the Dallas County School System in Alabama. He went on to attend Bessemer State Technical College excelling in the field of Diesel Mechanics. A dedicated, hard worker, Roosevelt worked for Chicago Bridge and Iron Company for over thirty years barely taking off work. He was very mechanically inclined and never encountered a problem that he could not fix. He enjoyed helping people and repaired equipment, cars, and many other things for family and friends often not seeking payment. One of his former coworkers once said to his son, Jr., “Your dad can build anything; he can build a car from scratch.” Roosevelt was preceded in death by seven brothers and three sisters (including his beloved sister, Elizabeth whose graveside services were held on the same day of his passing). He is survived by two sisters: Mary S. Alexander of Marion Junction, AL and Henrietta S. Tripp of Birmingham, Alabama. On February 25, 1960, Roosevelt married Dorothy Mae Anderson and to that union six children were born: Roosevelt Smith Jr., Gloria Smith Montgomery, Ricky L. Smith, Theodore “Pat” Smith, Selina D. Smith and Yolanda Smith Johnson, and grandchildren, Symone and Martez Johnson, Lindsey Smith, and great-grandson Joshua Johnson. They are left with heavy hearts and many fond memories including the annual one-day family trip. Roosevelt also has a multitude of nieces, nephews, other family and friends who adored him.
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