Charlie Miller Smith

With deepest sympathy, we announce the passing of Brother Charlie Miller Smith, 91, a resident of 1884 Coolidge Street, Wadley, Alabama.

Mr. Smith transitioned from this life on Sunday Morning, December 21, 2014.

Public visiting and viewing hours for Mr. Smith will be observed here at the funeral home on Friday, December 26, 2014, after 12:00 Noon.

Funeral Services will be held at the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 20360 Highway 77, Wadley, AL 36276, on Saturday, December 27, 2014, at 1:00 O'clock PM. The Reverend William Russell, pastor, will officiate. The Reverend William Phillips will serve as Eulogist. Special Music will be rendered by the Christianity Gospel Singers.

Burial will follow in the adjoining cemetery at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church immediately following the services.

For updated funeral information please call 334.863.4885

During these solemn hours, we pause to honor a great man among men, who dwelled among us and inspired us -- Mr. Charlie Miller Smith -- a man blessed to outlive eleven siblings. Charlie was born in or near Roanoke, Randolph County, Alabama on December 25, 1922, to the parentage of the late Alvin and Jennie Mae (Poole) Smith.

Though Charlie didn't boast high education achievement, he was nonetheless a very smart resourceful man -- smart enough to carve out a career, make a living, and support his family working as a self-employed logging contractor. He persevered in this work for more than two-thirds of his life.

Charlie was a life-long member of the White Chapel C.M.E. Church in Wadley, Alabama.

He served our grateful nation as a member of the United States armed forces, during World War II; and was an honorably discharged Veteran.

Charlie united in marriage with the late Verna Mae Hardnett, who passed in 1969. Their marriage gave rise to two children. In 1983, Charlie united in marriage with Ms. Johnnie Kate Seymour. This union gave rise to a loving blended family of six children. Johnnie Kate preceded him to heaven on May 1, 2011.

In the late 1980's after the turbulent civil rights and political battles of that era, Charlie became one of the first African Americans elected to a position on the Wadley City Council. He served on the City Council for more than 22 years.

One would imagine a public figure like Charlie to be very talkative. Instead, he had a quiet manner, but boasted a far better political message: one that came through his voice and his guitar. Charlie is most remembered for his love for and dedication to Gospel quartet singing, to which he devoted the better part of his life. Charlie performed with The Five Trumpets Gospel Singers, whose live gospel singing on the radio station woke many of us up on Sunday morning. The group was formed in the 1960s, and grew in popularity as they traveled from place to place. With the passage of time, many of the members faded off the scene. Later the Christian Travelers emerged as a prominent gospel group. Charlie not only played for The Christian Travelers, but served as it's manager from it's beginnings in the 1970s. They lived up to the name "Christian Travelers," joyfully journeying wherever their services were requested, lifting their voices in the name of Jesus. Theirs was truly a ministry of love. Never did you turn on the radio on a Sunday morning in Roanoke, and not hear Charlie Smith and The Christian Travelers. Even after the cost of radio time began to creep upward, sometimes to the point of being unreasonably costly, Charlie somehow managed to keep the Christian Traveler's radio program going. Over the years, Charlie Miller Smith emerged as a local icon -- a living legend of the much-respected art-form of Black Gospel Quartet singing. As divine providence dictated, many of the group's members began to fade away leaving Charlie -- the last surviving vestige of The Christian Travelers.

Slowly declining, in recent months, Charlie had come to Roanoke, to reside with his daughter, Josie.

He was preceded in death by four (4) sons: Bruce Seymour, Barron Seymour, Anthony Wayne Seymour, Edward Smith, Jr.; and one (1) grandson, LaMorris Smith. Charlie transitioned from this life on Sunday Morning, December 21, 2014 -- just four days before he would have witnessed his 92nd birthday. He was at Wedowee Hospital in Wedowee, Alabama.

He leaves to cherish many loving memories, one (1) daughter, Josie Marbury, of Roanoke, Alabama; one (1) step-daughter, Sherry Glenn (Charlie)of Lineville, Alabama; his last aunt, Dorothy Parker, of Roanoke, Alabama; two (2) grandsons: Quavis Marbury of Carrollton, Georgia, and Justin Smith of Montgomery, Alabama; two (2) step-grandsons: Eric Seymour of Alexander City, Alabama and Michael Seymour of Dadeville, Alabama; five (5) granddaughters: Keshia Smith and Crystal Smith of Wichita, Kansas, Laquinda Smith of Wedowee, Alabama, Octavia Russell of Newsite, Alabama, and Candace Smith of Montgomery, Alabama; two (2) step-granddaughters: Ryan Briskey of LaGrange, Georgia, and Jequette Lee of Wedowee, Alabama; nine (9) great grandchildren; a special friend, Christine Finley of Milltown, Alabama; and a large number of nieces, nephews, other loving relatives and friends.

For updated obituary information, please visit Clark Memorial Funeral Service, Roanoke, Alabama.

The family of the late Mr. Charlie Miller Smith wishes to use this means to expresses our deepest gratitude for every act of kindness or concern shown through your prayers, visits, phone calls, and other expressions of sympathy during our time of bereavement. May God richly bless and keep you all. Your kindness will never be forgotten.

The family of Mr. Charlie Miller Smith.

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