Clarence Carroll Smith
Clarence Carroll Smith, 72, of Callaway, MD died on July 2, 2005 in Leonardtown, MD. Born September 22, 1932, he was the son of the late Allie Fergerson and Lessie Rebecca Dyson Smith, Jr. He was educated in the Drayden School, which is still located on Cherryfield Road. He was united in Holy Matrimony to Rossetta Lawrence on October 15, 1950. Clarence worked construction and other odd jobs until 1964, in partnership with his wife, they opened Smith & Son’s Lawnmower Repair Shop. In 1968 they acquired their first school bus. After 36 ½ years in the Lawnmower Business and 30 years of driving and owning busses, Clarence retired in 2000. Clarence was a very active member of Bethesda United Methodist Church. Christmas was his favorite holiday. He enjoyed putting up and turning on his Christmas lights and aggravating his family by shaking his presents and pretending not to want to open them. He loved kids, anybody’s kids, and was often caught playing hide-and-seek with them in Church. Clarence enjoyed cookouts in his back yard with his family and friends. He was always making people laugh and could always be counted on for sound advice and a friendly smile. He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Thomasine Thompson; one grandson, John Smith, Jr.; and, one great-granddaughter, Lakia Owens. He is survived by his wife, Rossetta; six children, Thomas Saxon, Patricia Gray, Clara Brooks, John, Timothy and Phyllis Smith; thirteen grandchildren, Yvette and William Thompson, Marcella Mohica, Paul Thompson, Lamont Saxon, Candace, Kimberly, and Desmond Smith, Willis and Jason Brooks, Wayne, Jonathan and Michael Smith and ten great-grandchildren; one god-child, Kirstin Statesman; two aunts, Catherine Clay and Isabel Waters; two sons-in-law, Bernard Thompson and Paul Brooks; two daughters-in-law, Ruby Saxon and Dianne Green-Smith; two special family friends, Gary Lash and Dustin Parker; and, a host of other relatives and friends. There will be prayers at 7:00 P.M on Friday, July 8, 2005 in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 4:30 to 8:00 P.M.. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, July 9, 2005 at 10:00 AM in the Bethesda United Methodist Church, Valley Lee, MD with Reverend Irvin Beverly officiating. Interment will follow in the Church Cemetery. Pallbearers for Mr. Smith will be Willis Brooks, Lamont Saxon, Timothy Smith, Roy (Turner) Dyson, Desmond Smith and Charles Webb. Honorary Pallbearers will be Paul Brooks, Jonathan Smith, Bernard Thompson, Elmer Brown, Wayne Smith and Frank Travers. Contributions may be made to the Bethesda United Methodist Church Building Fund, P. O. Box 204, Valley Lee, MD 20692.