Marion "Teet" Nathaniel Smith Jr.

“He will swallow up death forever, Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces.” -Isaiah 25:8

Marion Nathaniel Smith, Jr. entered this world on June 17, 1932in Mt. Holly, North Carolina to the late Marion Nathaniel Smith, Sr. and Fannie Frances Broome Smith. He departed this life on Thursday, March 17, 2022 in Maryland.

We were blessed to have learned many valuable life lessons from Marion during his 89 years. He’d usually begin by saying, “Well, the thing of it is…” followed by some very insightful,enlightening, or encouraging words of wisdom. In addition, he was very sharp-witted, perceptive, and realistic regarding life’ssuccesses and challenges. He believed in having a strong work ethic.

Marion’s favorite pleasures and interests were eating grits, lentil soup, fried and baked fish, MacDonald’s Big Breakfast with a large coffee. He liked watching westerns, Bounty Hunter D, Judge Mathis and Judge Faith, Family Feud with Steve Harvey, and CNN on television. His favorite music was by Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, the Temptations, and gospel hymns from his childhood. Teet also liked to travel to Las Vegas and the Caribbean. He would also visit casinos and would usually win large sums of money.

Having conversations with Marion would generally prove to be interesting and/or informative, especially when he’d reminisce about his past. He would gladly share those memories and experiences with family and friends. Also, he was passionate about civil and equal rights for all people, and was a long-time member and contributor to Cemotap, an organization in Queens, NY that fought for those causes.

Teet enjoyed spending time with his family. He fortunately had the opportunity to live with each of his four children for extended periods of time during the last ten years of his life. He particularly doted over his only great-daughter Amara. Marion occasionally expressed his desire to leave a legacy for his children and grandchildren, for which he was able to do so.

Marion is survived by: two daughters, Sandra Smith Bivens of Greenville, SC, and Laurie Smith Clark of Savage, Maryland; his son Marion N. Smith, III of Midlothian, VA; and preceded in death by his daughter Marguerite Smith Drayton. Satra Carr, someone whom Marion loved like a daughter; and his grandchildren, Aiyana Waldron, Janna Neal, Malcolm Clark, Yeshaya Drayton, Xavier Smith, Chynna Smith, and great-granddaughter Amara Waldron; sisters, Betty Jean Luckey of Stanley, NC and Priscilla Stowe of Charlotte, NC; sisters-in-law, Angelene Hewitt of Germantown, PA, Birdia Hambright of Detroit, MI, Mary Washington of Petersburg, VA, Eunice Summey of Germantown, PA, Betty Ruth Hambright of Philadelphia, PA; one brother-in-law, James Summey of Germantown, PA; sons-in-law, Gary A. Bivens, James E. Clark, Jr., and George Drayton of Columbia, SC; and a host of nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.

A Visitation for Marion will be held Saturday, March 26, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM at Gary L. Kaufman Funeral Home at Meadowridge Memorial Park, 7250 Washington Blvd, Elkridge, MD 21075, followed by a Funeral Service from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM. Burial will be Private at Calverton National Cemetery, Calverton, New York.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.garylkaufmanfuneralhome.com for the Smith family.