On February 15, 1939, Lenon Smith was born in Florence, MS to the late Lonnie and Arlether Smith.  Lenon was the 6th of 13 children born to this union; five of which preceded him in death: one brother, Leartice Smith; and four sisters: Bobby Jo Smith, Lily Kate Butler, Ora Lee Johnson and Reccester Moore. Lenon accepted  Christ at an early age and became a member of Brown Hill Missionary Baptist Church.  Lenon lived in Cleveland, Ohio; then later moved to Canton, OH and became a minister and a member of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church.   He sang with the "Singing Wonders" and many other groups, until he heard the "True Life Ensemble" and met for the first time, Luce Sanders; at which time the search for a group and a mate came to a screeching halt.  He didn't even know her last name, but he was sure he was going to marry her. They became Canton's dynamite singing duo. Not long after Rev. Lenon and Lucy were united in holy matrimony; the Lord blessed them with a son; and a 42 year-long marriage began. Rev. Smith and his brother, Tom, became managers of "Smith Brothers 76" gas station.  He later retired from SARTA Transportation.  After retiring, Rev. Smith became an awesome gardener, raising organic food and giving it to the community. Rev. Smith raised prized turnip, collard and mustard greens.  Tender greens were his specialty.  He also raised tomatoes, corn, okra, peppers and even watermelon.  Do you know anyone in Ohio who raised white potatoes?  Rev. Smith did!  Not only did he raise the  vegetables, Rev. Smith could cook up a great meal and top it off with scrumptious pound cakes with four or five different flavors in them.  He also won prizes for and grew beautiful floral arrangements. Rev. Lenon and Lucy dedicated 20 plus years to foster parenting. Who would know that one of the first foster children, Chamia McFarland, would be by his side when the Lord called him home. Rev. Smith will be cherished and missed by his loving wife, Lucy; a faithful, devoted and care-giving mother in law, Mrs. Carrie Mae Sanders; two sons, Lenon Smith, Jr., of Canton, OH, and Perry Smith of Memphis, TN; special nephew that he raised as a son, Jamey Sanders, five daughters, Linda (Victor) Coleman of Fort Washington, MD, Limmie (Johnny) Hubbard of Braxton, MS, Cheryl (Rick) Hoehn of Olathe, KS, Taucia (Roosevelt) Hoover of Jackson, MS, Tan Smith of Columbia, MD; two brothers, Rev. Lonnie (Ruby) Smith of Jackson, MS and Rev. Tommie J. (Viola) Smith of Cleveland, OH; five sisters, Floreice (Halbert) Brenson of Terry, MS, Deloris Williams, Cola Wright, both of Cleveland, OH, Ethel (Joseph) Tripp of Chicago, IL, Min. Eunice Orr of Inkster, MI; twenty-one grand-children; three great-grandchildren; one brother-in-law, Joe Sanders; special friend of the family, Karen Grice-Ragin, and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, neighbors and friends.