Harold C Smith

Harold Chauncey Smith was born in Fairmont, North Carolina on March 6, 1937 to the late Josephine Smith Pittman and Briscoe Gerald, Sr. He passed peacefully on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at 76 years of age. Upon graduation from Rosenwald High School, he joined the US Army where he was stationed in the Far East- Korea, Okinawa and Guam. In September 1958, he enrolled at North Carolina Central University (formerly North Carolina College) in Durham, North Carolina and met the love of his life, Evelyn Marshall. He majored in Psychology and minored in Political Science. In 1959 he crossed the burning sands into the Tau Psi chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and emerged as an Omega man. He later joined the Chi Rho chapter and remained active until his death, receiving his 50-year pin for meritorious service to the fraternity in November 2010. On September 4, 1965, he married Evelyn Marshall in Durham, NC and to this union a son, Harold Frederick was born in May 1968 with a daughter, Kimberly Michele, following in March 1973. He was also blessed with two grandchildren, Imani Michele Mayo and Dante Maurice Mayo, Jr. Harold was employed as a Social Investigator trainee with the Human Resource Administration (HRA) with the City of New York, rising to the rank of Deputy Commissioner for Personnel, Labor Relations and Training. After 30 years of service he retired from the City in 1992. In 1994, after two years of retirement, he returned to the workforce to lead the Saratoga Inn, a homeless shelter serving 255 families. He retired again in 2008 after more than a decade of service and leadership. Harold was a loving husband, father, brother and grandfather. All who were a part of his life will miss his love. Among these who will cherish his life, love and legacy are his loving and devoted wife, Evelyn, his son, Hal, daughter, Kimberly, his son Howard Lee, his grandchildren Imani and Dante Jr., his sister, Patricia Johnson, his son-in law, Dante Mayo, Sr., daughter-in-law, Toni Miranda, his aunt, Lucille McMillan,uncle Willie Bethea, sisters- Ladina Craver, Eture Best, Linda Nealy, Desandra Brown and Nancy McDonald; his brothers- Briscoe Gerald, Jr., Douglas Gerald, Steven Gerald and Willie Gerald; sisters-in-law, Natalie Creed and Wanda Jean Moore; brothers-in-law, Dr. George Creed and Dr. Gordon Moore; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends and the many people who called 55 Sunset Avenue a second home over the last 34 years.