Obituary for Adolphus O. Smith Jr.
Adolphus O. Smith Jr. was born the 7th day of October 1932, in Harlem Hospital, New York City, to Adolphus and Althea L. Smith. Adolphus was raised by his grandparents George B. and Willie Mae Hawkins. He attended the New York City public schools and graduated in 1950. He attended Fayetteville State Teachers College in North Carolina from 1951 through 1953. He worked in New York and joined the New York City Transit Authority in 1968 and worked as a conductor and motorman until he retired in 1989.
He joined Epworth United Methodist Church under the late Rev. Mark J. Richards and served as president of its Men’s Club, assistant treasurer of the Finance Committee and chairman of the Trustee Board during the course of his membership. As a member of Crawford Memorial United Methodist Church he served on its Trustee Board, president of the United Methodist Men, sang in its choir and participated in its Bible study class He joined Westchester United Methodist Church in 2014. Smitty is a member of the Yemoja Disciple Community Bible Study Group under the auspices of Butler United Methodist Church located in the north Bronx. For several years Smitty facilitated Disciple Bible Study at Epworth United Methodist Church.
Adolphus O. Smith, Jr. entered Prince Hall Masonry in 1965 and after a brief period of dormancy rose steadily within his Lodge to become its Worshipful Master in 1976. He was a member of Widow's Son Chapter No. 1 Royal Arch Masons, Alpha Council No. 1 of Royal and Select Masons; Past Eminent Commander of St. John’s Commandery No. 1; a Most Eminent Grand Commander of the Most Eminent Grand Commandery of Knight's Templar State of New York, and Jurisdictions; Most Eminent State Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Encampment U.S.A; a member of Helping Hand Court #1 Order of Cyrene; Past Deputy Grand Chief Engineer of the Royal Grand Court Order of Cyrene. In 2013, along with Connie McQueen, he charted the Crown of Thorns Royal Court, Order of Cyrene. He is a Sovereign Grand Inspector General 33 and Past Commander-in-Chief of King David Consistory No. 3 Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. As the past secretary he served for a combined 17 years and has served as the treasurer of King David from 1981 until 2013. He also has served as the Secretary of the New York State Council of Deliberation A.A.S.R. from 1999 to 2017. He is an inactive member of Beacon Light Chapter No. 58 O.E.S. (PHA). He also served as secretary of his Lodge "Jephthah" from 1981 to 2002. He was an elected Grand Trustee of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the State of New York and Jurisdiction and served as secretary of that body for three years. He was also a member of the National Phylaxis Society and Medina Temple No.19 A.E.A.O.N.M.S.
Smitty was an avid bowler and loved sports especially baseball, football and basketball. Smitty as he was known to his friends married Linda C. Douglas on August 16, 1983. They loved to travel and he will be missed by his wife Linda. He often said "Do the best that you can, for that is what you will be judged by!” He leaves to mourn his wife Linda, a son, Oliver C. Jacobs, III (Lorna), Mother-in-law, Tommie Lee Douglas, granddaughter, Amiya and her mother Yakima Jones, his Lil’ Brother and friend Rev. Hermon J. Simpson, two sons from a previous marriage, Adolphus O. Smith, III, Stuart R. Smith and a host of cousins and friends.
As he was so fond of saying “I DID IT MY WAY!!!”
Yours Under The Cross,
Adolphus O. Smith, Jr.
“Smitty”