Obituary of Randolph Smith

Obituary Elder Randolph Smith, born May 11, 1927, left for his Heavenly home on June 20, 2023, and was born in Dublin, GA. He was a retired employee of Merita Bakery, where he worked for 47 years. Over the past five years, Randolph resided in Upper Marlboro, MD. Mr. Smith is survived by his children, Rita Mathis Smith (Reggie), Mason Mathis Jr., Muriel Mathis Lyles (Gary) of Upper Marlboro, MD; Cassandra Cole (Eric) of White Plains, MD; Grady Williams, and Craig Smith; Cyperiannia Smith; and Lucinda Smith Jackson (Kevin). Additionally, he is survived by many grandchildren, Great grandchildren & friends. Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his mother, Lucile Scott; father, Timothy Hale; son, Randolph Smith, Jr.; and daughter, Phyllis Elaine Smith. During WWII, TEC5 Smith served as an ambulance driver during the occupation of Japan and recovery missions of the final phases at the end of WWII. He would later be discharged and transferred back to the States. His honorable service is reported in his final discharge papers. Randolph was an avid listener of the 1940-50s Jazz and Big Bands by famous Black artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Satchmo, Cab Calloway, and Count Basie. During the racial tensions of the 1950s, Randolph became shop steward at Merita Bakery; later vice-president of the local union. Under his leadership, he was the first union leader to set up meetings for black workers. He fought for equal rights for the employees, including a retirement system and integrated water fountains. He also managed a local grocery store where he set up credit accounts for the community. Mr. Smith’s friend, Rex Gill, introduced Randolph to Pastor Michael Nelson, pastor of The House of Peace in Jacksonville, where he was a key member of the congregation. He became one of the first faithful members of this church in 1987 and became an elder of the church in the early 1990s. He exhibited strong faith in his leadership role in the church. After his health began to fail, he was a regular attendee of Fellowship Baptist Church in Upper Marlboro, MD. His favorite saying was, “Just keep on living!”