Clyde Smith, Jr.

Raleigh – Clyde Smith, Jr., 89, of 5301 Creedmoor Rd., at Magnolia Glen, Raleigh, NC, died August 7, 2024. He was born August 25, 1934, in Greensboro, NC.

Active in Scouting during his youth, Smith attained to the rank of Eagle Scout and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow. Smith graduated from Bessemer High School in 1952 and held degrees from UNC-CH, UNC School of Law, and NC State University. While a student at UNC, he was active in the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship chapter and twice was elected president. He was introduced to his wife of 62 years and 9 months, Laura Alice Robertson, by a Nurses Christian Fellowship staff worker at an IVCF weekend conference in Chapel Hill. They married December 27, 1958. He graduated from UNC School of Law and was admitted to the North Carolina Bar in 1958. Following graduation, he served two years active duty with the U.S. Army in the Legal Assistance Office of Brooke Army Medical Service School, Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX and two years active reserve duty in the 805th Military Police Unit in Raleigh, NC.

In 1960, Smith was employed as Corporations Attorney in the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State and in 1968, was appointed Deputy Secretary of State by Thad Eure, Secretary of State. He retired in 1988 and engaged in limited practice of law until 1999.

An avid bird watcher, Smith, was a member of Wake Audubon Society and the Carolina Bird Club. He was editor of the CBC Newsletter for 22 years.

Smith was an active Baptist layman serving Tabernacle Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC, as Sunday school teacher, deacon, chairman of the deacon body, trustee and moderator. He was a member of the Missions and Ministry Council of the Raleigh Baptist Association and served the Association as Vice-Moderator and Moderator. He served on the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Baptist Foundation, Inc. for ten years and was chairman of the board of directors and president of the corporation in 1990.

He was predeceased by his parents, Clyde and Margaret Smith, and his brother, John Lee Smith.

He is survived by three sons: Clyde Franklin Smith of Roanoke, VA; John Brady Smith and wife, Ella Ann of Raleigh, NC; and Houston Dale Smith of Hartford, CT; his grandchildren, Joshua Brady Smith of Smyrna, GA and Benjamin Bruce Smith of Tallahassee, FL; his nephew, John Lee Smith, Jr. and wife, Kim and their children Connor and McKenna Smith of Greensboro, NC; and his sister-in-law, Michele G. Smith of Greensboro, NC.

The funeral service will be held 11:00 am on Monday, August 12, 2024, at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, 831 Wake Forest Rd., Raleigh, NC 27604, followed by the interment at Oakwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10:00-11:00 am Monday at the funeral home prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Raleigh Rescue Mission, 314 E. Hargett St., Raleigh, NC 27601 or the Triangle Land Conservancy, PO Box 1848, Durham, NC. 27702.