Robert Lee Smith, Sr. was born in Leland, Mississippi on Aug 29, 1933 to Willie and Mamie F. Smith, who proceeded him in death. Robert was the seventh of eight children born to that union. 

Robert attended elementary school in Shaw, Mississippi. Later, the Smith Family relocated to St. Louis, Mo. where Robert attended St. Louis pa­rochial Schools for a short time and completed his primary education in the St. Louis Public School District. Robert proudly graduated from Vashon High School in 1953. 

Robert accepted the Lord Jesus into his life as a teenager and was baptized under the late Rev. Harmon Gore, Sr. at Christ Southern Mission Baptist Church. He later moved his membership to The Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ under the leadership ot Pastor Marion E. Woods and Co-Pastor George Amos Woods. 

Robert was united in holy matrimony in 1955 to John Ethel Thomas Smith, who proceeded him in death. Jo this union was born two children Robert Smith, Jr. and Sylvia Ann Smith. 
Robert later remarried his beloved Gloria Jean Allen-Smith in 1971, who also proceeded him in death; and to that union was born two children Derrick Lamont Smith and Dana Lynette Smith. In his lifetime, he fathered 6 children and gained 3 bonus children. He loved them all the same. 

Robert retired from Kisco Manufacturing Company after 35 years of service and tried to enjoy every minute of his retirement. He would go fishing as much as he could. He loved watching G.S.N., the Cardinal baseball games and was a die hard Cardinals fan. he also loved watching Criminal TV along with drinking his energy drinks and partaking of his daily dose of scratch offs. He resided in the home of his beloved daughter, Sylvia, for 18 years who cared for him until his final days.

We are truly going to miss him!

Robert Lee Smith Sr. had seven siblings' three sisters, Queen Esther Lane, Luella Brown and Mamie R. Peterson Burks, four brothers, Malachi Smith, William Smith, Marion L. Smith, whom all have preceded him in death and he leaves to cherish his memory Eddie Lee Brown (Mary) his youngest brother. 

It was the grace of God that touched the life of Robert Lee to see five generations of his off spring. He leaves to cherish his memory five children Sylvia Ann Woods Grisby (Curtis), Timothy Cherry (Elizabeth), Tobias Cherry (Victoria), Derrick Smith and Dana Smith Mayes (Howard). Robert Smith Jr. his eldest preceded him in death, three bonus children Valerie (John), Charles Cherry (Portia) and Chris Cherry (Melba). He also leaves to cherish ten Grand­children with six bonus Grandchildren, sixteen Great Grandchildren with six bonus Great Grandchildren and five Great Great Grandchildren with two bo­nus Great Great Grandchildren. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins and spe­cial friends Ms. Emma Cherry and Mrs. Deloris Powell, friends Deacon Tony and Evangelist Terry, caretaker Claude "Red."