Gilbert Leo Smith Jr.

Gilbert Leo Smith, Jr. entered into eternal rest on December 21, 2020 surrounded by family. Smith is a retired Charleston County Police Officer and owner of Players Place Billiards. He is a Master Mason, Shriner and member of the Fraternal Order of the Police. He was born December 10, 1946 in Charleston, SC to his parents, Gilbert L Smith Sr and Frances Dubose Picquet Smith (Bledsoe). He attended Porter Military Academy and Chicora High School. He worked at the Charleston Naval Base, before becoming a police officer. He retired from the police department in 1988 after serving twenty years. As a police officer, he was shot in the line of duty and as a result paralyzed for the past fifty years.

He was an active community member, advocate for the disabled, and a mentor to countless people. He was a leader of AWE (Achieving Wheelchair Equality), a founder of DRC (Disability Resource Center), member of the APA, a wheelchair basketball coach, past board member of the Tri-County Rural Transportation Management Authority, past board member of the South Carolina Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC), founding member and past-president of FOP tri-county lodge, past state president of the SC FOP and numerous other leadership roles.

He participated in many wheelchair sports - tennis, basketball, water skiing. He was a strategic billiard player and shot pool in Las Vegas for numerous tournaments. He enjoyed traveling and spending time with family, especially grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is survived by a wife, Carol Hardee Smith of Johns Island; a daughter, Michelle VanAllen and her husband Gary of Summerville; a daughter, Melissa Justice of Ridgeville; five grandchildren, Brian Chavis and his wife Codi, Brittany VanAllen and Mackenzie Justice all of Summerville; Brook Chavis of Charleston, and Mason Driggers of Ridgeville; four great-grandchildren; a sister, Rhonda Smith of Charleston and a large extended family. He was predeceased by his parents and one sibling, Gwynette Hatcher of Charleston.

Friends and family are invited to celebrate his life and honor him at a graveside service on Sunday, December 27 at 2 PM, Carolina Memorial Park located at 7113 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29406. 843-797-2222.

The family will also hold a memorial service to share time and stories with friends and loved ones on Saturday, January 2 at Players Place West Ashley. Drop-in between 2 PM and 4 PM to meet family and friends, view memories and share stories.