Obituary

On November 13, 1930, Bill and Canzaty Smith welcomed into the world their first son, Sylvester Smith.  He was named after his grandmother, Sylvia Eagle. He would be called “Bo” by his father but everyone else would lovingly call him, “Buddy”.  Growing up in Taft, Buddy was all boy.  He learned to fish and hunt from his parents who were professional trappers.  He attended Moton Public Schools, where he was very active in all things school.  He was an avid sportsman, lettering in football and basketball.  As a young man, he was always in the know and hungered for knowledge. His mother, Canzaty, was a midwife and as the times would have it, she would often barter for payment after helping bring children into the world.  As fate would have it, she received a greyhound dog for payment and took it home to Buddy.  The love of his life was created.  From that day forward, Buddy loved everything greyhound and he talked about dogs until a couple of days before his passing.  As a young boy hunting, Buddy had an accident with a shotgun that would alter the use of his hand; but God had a plan for that hand years later.

Sharecropping was a way that families survived.  The Smiths sharecropped with the Harrell family which made the families very close.  This is how Buddy met Alice. Buddy and Alice were best friends growing up.  One summer, as Buddy would tell, Alice went to California and when she returned, she was a beautiful swan and he no longer was her best friend, they became husband and wife. On February 5, 1952, Alice became the new love of his life (before the greyhounds), Buddy believed their marriage lasted because it was blessed by Alice’s grandfather, who lived to be 108 years old.  This union would have a total of 12 children; however, 10 survived birth, five boys; Calvin Julian, Gregory Floyd, Dearld Sylester, Rushawn Jerome and Germany Tyrone; and five girls, Sylvia Alicea, Paula Francene, Stephanie Loran, Jeanetta Denise and Joyce Lynn. Although they had 10 children, they reared many more including their grandson, Sylvester (Pino) Smith, Evans, Glen Jr. and Skip.  Their love affair would last over 70 years.  Their advice about marriage was “To keep dancing and remember no one gives 100%, some days it’s 50/50, somedays it’s 70/30, but always trust God”. Sylvester and Alice are back together again.

Knowing about God’s Love, Buddy was a believer in God’s Word.  Growing up, he attended First Baptist Church Taft under the direction of Rev. Charles Davis.  The night Buddy gave his life to Christ, he had an entourage of all the youth at the church to follow him and his sister, Rillastine, to the alter.  He went and the rest followed.  After moving from Taft to Wichita and later from Wichita to Tulsa, he united with Shiloh Baptist Church.  He and his young family were a part of a growing church, and he was a member of the Male Chorus.  He had been a member of Shiloh since the 1950’s under the original pastor, Rev. H.D. Morris, Shiloh’s second pastor, Rev. M.L. Bailey Sr. and the current pastor, Rev.  Vernell L. Bell.  All three pastors shared a special bond with him.  God’s wisdom and love showered Buddy and Alice and their family.  All ten of his children were baptized at Shiloh Baptist Church and many are still members.  He loved the Lord, read God’s word and honored Jesus’ commandments to “Love One Another”. Buddy’s favorite thing to say was, “I never met a man I didn’t like, I might not like his ways, but I love everybody” and indeed he did.  He was a man of compassion, and he would help anyone.  If you lived in the neighborhood in the 70’s and 80’s, you probably remember the chips.  Mr. Otis Davis delivered the chips, and the Smith family would distribute them to anyone who asked—just bring a bag.  Buddy’s house was a place of peace, refuge and order; he was the head of his house, being stern but loving, had a funny side but did not play. He was a good listener, full of wisdom and a leading light for his family.

Buddy worked many jobs growing up, but when he moved to Tulsa he worked for Tulsa Linen.  At Tulsa Linen, he served as a steward.  He loved that job until one day he and the owner had a disagreement. He was let go, but God always has a ram in the bush.  As he was walking home, one of his church members, Mr. Leo Johnson, stopped him and told him that he had a job for him if he needed work.  That day, Buddy learned a new trade that would feed his family for the rest of his life.  He learned commercial tile laying. He became very good at laying tile.  Remember that gunshot wound that he sustained as a youth, it created a perfect holding place for tile.  Because of racism, Buddy couldn’t become a union worker in Oklahoma, so he was a member of the union in Arkansas.  He could lay tile standing up.  One night in Kansas, Richard Nixon was giving a speech, and Buddy was laying tile as he told it, he had as many people watching him lay tile as was listening to Richard Nixon’s speech.  For a long time, he was the only black man receiving a pension from the Tile Workers Union.

His pastime was hunting, fishing, football, dominoes and did I mention hunting? Greyhounds and beagles were a big part of his life.  On Saturdays, he along with many men in our community would leave for hunting trips.  Buddy fed many families on rabbits and fish.  Oh, but on Sundays, you would find him cheering on his team, America’s team, the Dallas Cowboys.  He was an avid Cowboys fan.  He would often tell people that Emmitt Smith was his nephew.

Many people knew him as Buddy Brown.  His mother-in-law, Massie added the last name Brown to his nickname.  This name was important because if he ever got caught hunting in a place he was not supposed to hunt in, that would be the name he would use.  Hunting is a family trait he passed down to all of his sons.  He was also an avid swimmer. He taught all of his children and grandchildren how to swim.  He was a man’s man.

On November 22, 2024, God saw him in pain and said, “Buddy, it’s time for you to rest.” To our Daddy, your work is done, you gave us the blueprint, you taught by example, and we will forever love you.  Kiss Mama and Paula for us.  We will continue your legacy because we are #Smithville Strong.

Meeting him at heaven’s gate will be his wife, Alice Smith; parents, Willie and Canzaty Smith; daughter, Paula Smith; sisters, Mary Davis, Willie Mae Ingram and Canzaty Cullom.  Brothers; Daniel Smith and Spencer Smith. In-laws, mother, Massie Harrell; Curtis Harrell, Kathleen Lawson, Norma Taylor, Andrew Harrell, Elliott (Pete) Harrell, William (Sonny) Harrell.

Cherishing his life, love and legacy are four generations:  his children, Calvin (Marsha) Smith, Greg (Ella) Smith, Dearld Smith, Rushawn (Ewelene) Smith, Sylvia (Kenneth) King, Stephanie (Ernest) Carter, Germany Smith, Jeanetta Williams and Joyce Smith.  Sisters, Rillastine Wilkins, Emma Joyce Gaines and Dr. Lelia Davis; brother, Floyd Smith; sister-in-law, Bernice Harrell; A host of grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Visitation for Mr. Smith will be held on Friday, December 6, from 2:00 p.m. –  5:00 p.m., followed by a wake service from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., at Butler-Stumpff & Dyer Funeral Home, 2103 E. 3rd St., Tulsa, OK 74104.

To watch the wake service live, click the link listed below:

https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTczMzM1MDI0NjMzOTg3NyZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 7, 11:00 a.m., at Shiloh Baptist Church, 1124 N. MLK Jr. Blvd., Tulsa, OK 74106 followed by interment at Green Acres Memorial Gardens, Skiatook, OK.