William "Bill" Ernest Smith, 79, of Stanley, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, August 4, 2022. He was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina to the late Sara Stacy Grice Smith and Cecil Ira Smith, Sr. Bill was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Stanley. He was a Super-Excellent Master in the Charlotte Council #8 Freemasonry. Bill was also a member of the Shriners of North America. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Jane, of almost 61 years; his children, Kenneth Ray Smith, Sarah Catherine Cromer and her husband, John, and Michael Ernest Smith and his wife, Andrea; grandchildren, Robert Smith and his wife, Mandy, Aaron Smith and his wife, Katie, Ryan Cromer, Andrew Cromer, Alex Cromer, Lauren Smith, Jordan Smith, and Madison Smith; two great grandchildren, Jackson and Elizabeth Grace Smith; and his brother, Cecil "Junior" Ira Smith, Jr. and his wife, Ann. The family will greet guests from 12:30 until 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 at First Baptist Church, 409 Old Mt. Holly Road, Stanley. A service to celebrate his life will be held immediately following at 2:00, also at the church. Entombment will conclude at Hillcrest Gardens Cemetery in Mount Holly. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Open Door Ministry at First Baptist Church, Stanley.