Moses Leroy Smith

Pastor M. Leroy Smith was a native of Mississippi. He grew up with parents and siblings in Fernwood, MS.  He was the eldest of six siblings.

   His high school was interrupted when he was called to serve in the U.S. Army. He trained for service in Oklahoma and Camp Stoneman, CA.  He sailed to Sydney, Australia, then to Brisbane and from there to Milne Bay in New Guinea. Upon leaving New Guinea, he traveled to the Philippines and then on to Nagoya, Japan.  He served with the fighting men of America and our allies until the end of the European Conflict in 1945. His military career ended as a Sergeant.  After being honorably discharged, he completed high at Booker T. Washington in New Orleans, LA. He also attended Tri-State College in New Orleans, where he acquired trades in painting, contracting and tailoring.

   In September of 1950, M. Leroy Smith was ordained as a Deacon under the late Rev. S.J. Dickey at the Rose Hill Baptist Church in McComb, MS.

   In 1953, he moved to Cleveland, OH and joined the True Vine Baptist Church under the Pastorate of Rev. R. Solomon Rose.  Three years later, he was called and licensed to preach the Gospel and after a year was ordained as a minister.  After being ordained, he studied at the American Theological Seminary under Dean Douglas.  He later continued his studies at Ashland College in Ashland, OH where he received his Doctorate of Divinity in 1977.

   In 1958, Pastor Smith organized the Everlasting Missionary Baptist Church where he served until death in 1994.  He also organized and served as the Moderator of the Cleveland and Vicinity Baptist District Association. Pastor Smith was a member of the Ohio Baptist State Convention, Inc. and the National Baptist Convention, USA.

Pastor Smith was married to Bettye J. Reed and they had one son, Eric Leroy. After the passing of his wife in 1972, he married Ida M. Magee who was by his side until his departure April 17, 1994.