Dr. Shelby Andrew Smith Sr

September 16, 1927 - September 25, 2019

Dr. Shelby Andrew Smith, Sr., beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and faithful servant of Jesus Christ, was welcomed home by his Lord on Wednesday, September 25, 2019. Born September 16, 1927 in Jemison, AL, Dr. Smith was called into ministry as a young college student and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at Howard College (now Samford University), his Master of Theology at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and was awarded Doctor of Divinity, Honoris Causa from Samford University. His pastoral ministry began with his ordination at Concord Baptist Church, Concord, AL, and spanned more than 71 years, including early Baptist pastorates in Dixon Mills, Sunny South, Billingsley, Cedar Grove, and Blue Creek in Alabama. His ministry took him overseas in 1958 when God called him to serve as a Southern Baptist foreign missionary in Ecuador with his wife, Eleanor Elizabeth “Betty” Westover Smith. He served in Guayaquil until his wife died on the mission field in 1964, leaving him a widower with five young children. Faithfully continuing to serve his Lord, Dr. Smith was blessed with a new wife in 1968, the former Frances Ann Higdon. The couple was appointed to the Caribbean to continue missionary service with their five children, serving in Trinidad, Antigua and with Sunday School curriculum for the Caribbean through Caribbean Christian Publications based out of El Paso, TX. Dr. Smith is survived by his wife, Frances Smith, his son, Shelby Smith, Jr. (Debby), his daughter, Sheryl Montgomery (Malcolm), his son, Sherwin Smith (Cyndy), his daughter Sherlie Andrews (Johnny), his son, Shean Smith (Erin), and 17 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. He is survived by countless spiritual children who came to faith through his faithful service. Life celebration services will be Saturday, September 28, 2019 at 1:00pm in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Gulf Shores.