Stephen Ray Smith

Stephen (Steve) was born in Nashville, TN on June 7, 1962. His earliest years were spent traveling the country with his parents in itinerant preaching and singing ministry. From the time he could talk he always wanted to be a preacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As a young child, he often joined his parents in song both on a platform and in the recording studio.

When his dad left itinerant ministry to pastor local churches, Steve was heavily involved in helping in the ministry, whether through cleaning the church, mowing the lawn, playing his trumpet, or eventually preaching. Steve was a natural evangelist, witnessing to strangers and filling his father’s churches (and home) with needy people and lost souls. He was a natural born leader and entrepreneur, always “rising to the top” in any endeavor he undertook.

Eventually, Steve got married, left home, and went to Hobe Sound Bible College to begin formal study for the ministry. In Bible College he traveled with choirs and quartets as they ministered and did PR work throughout the United States. Then he began to pastor his own churches and once again, his passion for people and his persuasive abilities began to fill churches with people looking for a relationship with their Creator. Steve continued in pastoral work for nearly 40 years, eventually becoming a denominational leader at the state and regional level. He also continued his education earning both a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Theology at Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA. As a Certified Coach, Teacher, and Speaker with The John Maxwell Company, he served as a coach to hundreds of leaders in the United States, and over the course of two decades traveled extensively to South and Central America to coach over one thousand leaders in a cross-cultural setting. He was the author of The Development of People and The Attending Implications (2006).

Following his ministry career, Steve became very successful in the financial services sector helping people protect their loved ones and preserve what they'd built through life insurance with living benefits. He often said that he was still ministering to people but on a different platform. Whether in traditional ministry or in marketplace ministry, truly, his greatest passion in life was to lead people to an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ.

His life wasn’t all ministry and business. As a child he was a Boy Scout, a young entrepreneur (building quite a lawn mowing business), and a musician. He played trumpet in church and in school, marching with one of the top marching bands in the nation. He also participated in state and national competitions in both singing and trumpet. Steve was never into a lot of sports, but he did enjoy golfing. One of Steve’s favorite things in life was laughter - and could he laugh! His laughter was legendary as it often bordered on uncontrollable. Whether with his children or his friends or watching one of his favorite Jim Carrey movies, his laughter was infectious. He regularly sent funny memes and videos to his family and friends.

Steve’s family and friends will miss him greatly, but all rejoice that he is finally and forever pain-free and whole.

Steve was preceded in death by paternal grandparents, Cort & Elsie Smith and maternal grandparents, Ernest & Catherine Hopper, as well as 3 uncles and an aunt. Survivors include: parents, Denzil & Geraldine Smith; sister Stephanie Reed (James) and brother Shannon Smith (Kathryn); beloved spouse, Silvana Espana Smith and step-daughter, Margarita; former spouse, Judy Smith and their children Stephen Aaron (Tony), Abigail Whitney, Anna Kristen (Andrew), Ashley Elizabeth (Andrew), Alyson Katie, Alyssa Kourtney (Isaac), and Alaina Karol (Jacob); grandchildren, Adelaide, Audrey, Anderson, and Shepherd; a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at Christ Fellowship Church | Stuart, 10205 Pratt Whitney Rd, Stuart, FL. Visitation at 10:00 AM, Funeral at 11:00 AM, Interment immediately following services at Fern Hill Memorial Gardens, Stuart, FL.

Following the service, we’d love for you to join us in celebrating the life of Steve R. Smith.

We’ll be gathering at the Cambridge Club House for some food, drinks, and a chance to share memories and support each other during this time.

Location: 8201 SE Constitution Blvd.

Hobe Sound, Fl 33455

Your presence would mean so much to us as we honor Steve’s memory together.

Steve’s family extends heart-felt gratitude to all who invested in his life, particularly over the past year.