John Calvin Smith Jr.

He was born on July 2, 1944 at Mary Elizabeth Hospital in Raleigh, N.C. He grew up in what was then the country at 3216 Poole Road and is now inside the beltline. He attended Knightdale School for the first 8 grades and graduated from Broughton High School in 1962. He attended Hardbarger Business College in Raleigh and took a job as a sales clerk at the Hudson Belk department store in downtown Raleigh. He was promoted to manager of the “Bargain Basement” of Hudson Belk and worked there until that store closed. Thereafter he worked as a department manager of both the Crabtree and Cary Hudson Belk stores.

After his retirement from Hudson Belk, he worked many years at the Hillsborough St. YMCA, where he became known and loved by many. It was a great blessing and joy to him that he developed so many lasting friendships with Y staff and members both, many of whom remained caring, loving and supportive of him through his final illnesses.

He was a lifelong member of Samaria Baptist Church on Poole Road in Raleigh, previously serving as a Deacon. In his boyhood there he was active in Royal Ambassadors and in Boy Scout Troop 305, where he enjoyed summer camp at Camp Durant.

He was a lifelong reader of fiction, a particular fan of Ernest Hemingway. He voted a straight Democratic ticket every election from 1965 when he became eligible to vote, never missing an opportunity to cast his ballot.

He was predeceased by his parents, John C. “Jack” Smith, Sr. and Dorothy A. “Dot” Smith. He is survived by his daughter Judy, brother Steve, sister-in-law Rachel, nephew Jason, niece Shelley, all of Raleigh, niece Eleanor of Brooklyn, N.Y., niece Tricia of Los Angeles, Cal., and a host of loving cousins.

Memorial services will be Sunday, September 13, 2015 at 3:00 pm at the Alexander YMCA, 1603 Hillsborough St., Raleigh, N.C., with visitation immediately thereafter.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the We Build People Campaign of the Hillsborough St. YMCA.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Saint Mary's St.