EDUCATOR.  AFRICAN GURU. HUMBLE SERVANT. GOD'S MIGHTY WOMAN. WONDERFUL MOTHER TO ALL.

A woman of poise and power, Lynette Ruth Townsend Smith lived an exceptional life overflowing with love, excellence and sharing. She entered this world on November 29, 1942 to His Grace, the late Right Reverend Curtis P. Townsend and the late Mother Ruth A. Townsend in Camp Quarters (Russellville), South Carolina. Her life was a remarkable journey that leaves a legacy of empowerment and inspiration for generations to come.

Her Educational Journey

She was educated in the Berkeley County School System and graduated from Berkeley Training School in 1960.

In 1960, she matriculated at South Carolina State College. She became a member of the Beta Sigma Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated in 1962. She graduated in 1964, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Because of her commitment to academic excellence, she also obtained her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from South Carolina State. A skilled accountant, her passion for education and teaching the next generation began as she became the Reading Teacher at Cross Elementary School.

It would be from that place that her years of dedicated service to academic success would lead her to becoming the Principal of Sandridge Elementary and Assistant Principal and teacher at Sangaree Intermediate School. Always pursuing knowledge and insight, in 2014, Lynette fulfilled her dream of acquiring her Ph.D. from the University of Phoenix specializing in Leadership Development. She obtained her Certification in Grief and Loss Counseling in 2017. She was a 60-Year Soror and charter member of Nu Alpha Omega Chapter (1980) of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated in Moncks Corner, South Carolina. She was the author of five books (including one in process), ranging in topics on love to overcoming grief.

Her Spiritual Journey

At an early age, she was reared in a Godly home, yet her personal salvation did not occur until her young adult years, where she received salvation and the infilling of the Holy Spirit at Mitten Lane First Born Church of the Living God in Moncks Corner, South Carolina.

Her gift to sing and her desire to see young people thrive and take their rightful place in the church led her to become the Choir Director and District Youth President of the Central Diocese of the church. For many years, she dedicated and trained the choir and youth to become prominent forces in the community as well as the First Born Church. In 1980, she developed one of the premier Youth Congresses that drew people from far and wide. Yet, she would soon answer another call—the call to preach.

Under the tutelage of her father, she did her initial sermon in 1981. Because of her powerful evangelistic and educated approach, she was hailed as one of the top voices within the church, traveling all over the country to preach and teach the gospel. She served and remained faithful to Mitten Lane until she received her ordination to eldership in 1998. After years of tireless service and commitment, she was elevated to the office of Pastor of Mitten Lane in 2003. Through her leadership, the church grew and made many improvements both spiritually, numerically and physically.

In 2006, she retired from the pastorate and moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to assist her son, Bishop L. Spenser Smith, at the Impact Nation Fellowship Church. She quickly became a force within the ministry as the Director of Christian and Leadership Education and developed the Unity School of Ministerial Preparation, continuing her desire to develop well-rounded ministers and leaders, where she capably served as Dean. In 2014, she was again elevated to the Office of Overseer by the Unity Impact Fellowship and became the Dean of the Sacred College of Presbyters of the Unity Impact Fellowship of Churches and Ministries, in charge of ordination development and adjudication. She was the resident "African History Guru" of the Impact Nation Village and the founder of "G'Ma's Kids," embracing young children and fostering their desire to grow in Christ and academic achievement. In honor of her late husband, she founded the Joseph W. Smith Music Memorial Scholarship Fund, focusing on assisting deserving youth to attend college.

Her Family Journey

In 1966, she married her childhood friend and the love of her life, Joseph Wilfred Smith. Together, they shared the parenting of five beautiful children: three sons, Ronald Tyrone, Leonard Spenser and Curtis Elliott; and two daughters, Gwendolyn Yvonne and Tyffani Nekeisha. Her husband, Joseph and her daughter, Gwendolyn, gained their entrance into Glory preceding her death. Her love of family and her intrigue with our ancestral roots, led her to trace and document both her husband's and her own personal lineage. She had a desire to leave her family the strong connections to the understanding of the greatness of our bloodlines, from Africa to America. She would often share and empower all who would listen on the importance of family, roots and connection—never to abandon the foundations from whence we have come.

Her Triumphal Journey

As she has ascended to the great cloud of witnesses and ancestors, she leaves as a testament of her enduring legacy of love and care to continue the Smith family assignment on the earth: three sons, Ronald Tyrone (Thaddette), Leonard Spenser (Patrice) and Curtis Elliott (Shani); one daughter, Tyffani Nekeisha Thompson (Paul); one special son, Romel Pinckney, Miami, Florida; one special daughter, Lizzie Mae Fennick; ten grandchildren, affectionately known as Her "loves": Ronald Tyrone II, Jori Aaliyah, Jamel Alexander, Tabia Moriah, Jarren Andrew, Tierah Alexis, Takiya Nimah, Tamia LaShay, Jai Syncere and Tiye Shabazz; two brothers, Ronald D. Smith (Lynn) of Baldwin, New York and David E. Evans (Louise) of Ridgeville, South Carolina; one sisters, Gwendolyn McCormick of Rose Hill, North Carolina; one special mother/aunt, Ethel A. Smalls; one uncle, Theodore Anderson (Eva) of Brooklyn, New York; two nephews, Kraig Ronald Smith and David Monte Evans; three nieces, Dacia Sherece, Elyse Smith and Ava Smith; her church family, The Impact Nation Church; G'Ma's Kids; and a host of cousins, extended children, and friends whom she loved dearly.

All donations in honor of Dr. Lynette T. Smith can be given to the Joseph W. Smith Scholarship Fund via PayPal or mail .