BURGAW — William Ralph “Pastor Bill” Smith, 50, peacefully passed from his earthly life Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, after a five-month battle with liver cancer at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare.
He was born Jan. 13, 1970, in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Donald Curtis and Wilma Jane Smith. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Lisa Smith Forsythe.
Pastor Bill is survived by his wife of 18 years, Betty Strain Smith; son, Isaiah Smith; brother, Donald Curtis Smith Jr., and his wife, Blanche, of Hubert; sister, Pam Luna, and her husband, Mike, of Jacksonville; and many nieces, nephews and their children.
Early in life, Pastor Bill learned the art of a craftsman in the construction industry. His attention to detail was evident in everything he built for his family. In his leisure time, Pastor Bill enjoyed playing and watching basketball with Isaiah, watching Star Wars movies and playing his electric guitars.
He was devoted to his family and loved to study the Word of God. Pastor Bill leaves a legacy of faithful commitment to his call as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and leading his family to know and serve the Lord with compassion, strength and integrity.
Pastor Bill considered it his honor and privilege to serve the Lord as a minister within the Southern Baptist Convention of North Carolina and as pastor to all those who needed him. With pride and dedication, he began his ministry as a youth minister at Bear Creek Baptist Church, and went on to pastor at Midville Baptist Church, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, and, most recently, at Burgaw Baptist Church.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 9, at Burgaw Baptist Church, 100 E. Bridgers St., Burgaw, with the Rev. Timothy Cook and the Rev. Terry Golden officiating. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. prior to funeral services at the church. A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 12, at Bear Creek Baptist Church, 116 Great Neck Landing Road, Hubert, with the Rev. Terry Golden officiating.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the medical teams of Wilmington Health and Lower Cape Fear LifeCare. The family would also like to thank Burgaw Baptist Church and the Greater Burgaw community for all their support and kind gestures over the past five months.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare or Burgaw Baptist Church, Operation In As Much (OIAM).
Share online condolences with the family at Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home.
