Olajide Abiodun Olufemi Smith

Olajide Abiodun Olufemi Smith

1932-2015

On the evening of August 23rd, 2015, Chief Dr. Lt. Col (Rtd.) Olajide Abiodun Olufemi Smith passed away peacefully at his home in Midlothian, Virginia. He was in the company of his wife and his daughter, Jumoke, at the time of his transition. Dr. Smith was 82 years of age and is survived by his wife of 42 years, Louanne Irma Smith (nee Finkel), seven children, 10 grandchildren and his sister, Modupe Edozien.

Olajide Smith was born on December 24, 1932 in Lagos, Nigeria to Ebenezer Erinosho Soboyejo and Helena Olayemi Smith. His mother was the daughter of Herbert Samuel Heelas Macaulay, and great grand-daughter of Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther. Dr. Smith completed his secondary education at St. Gregory’s College in Lagos, Nigeria. He achieved his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of London’s University Center, Ibadan in 1961. He pursued additional post-graduate training and research at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Baltimore, Maryland in the United States and subsequently specialized in Internal Medicine with a sub specialty in Endocrinology after completing training at Worcester Royal Infirmary and Hull Royal Infirmary in the United Kingdom. In 1971, Dr. Smith was elected as a Member of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom. He was later elected to Fellow of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom. In 1982, Dr. Smith was elected to Fellow of the Nigerian Medical College of Physicians.

In 1971, after a brief period as a lecturer at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Smith joined the Nigerian Armed Forces and was posted to Kaduna, Nigeria where he served for several years as the Commanding Officer of the 44 Armed Forces Military Hospital. He retired from the military with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Dr. Smith then served as the Director of the Kaduna State Hospital after which he opened his own private practice, Saha Medical Center, in Kaduna, Nigeria until his retirement in 2002 at the age of 70.

In his youth, Dr. Smith was an avid sportsman. He served as President of his local Rotary Club in Kaduna, Nigeria. He was an officer of the Kaduna Polo Club and served as their team doctor. In 1987, he was honored with the chieftaincy title of Akingbotun Igbore, previously held by his father, and bestowed by the elders of his family. He was an active member of St. Christopher’s Anglican Church in Kaduna, Nigeria and recently joined the church family at St. Matthias Episcopal Church in Midlothian, VA.

The visitation for our beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle and friend will be held on Sunday, August 30th, 2015 from 2:00-4:00pm at Woody Funeral Home Huguenot Chapel at 1020 Huguenot Road, Midlothian Virginia. Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 31st, 2015 at 11:00am at St. Matthias Episcopal Church, 11300 W Huguenot Rd, Midlothian, VA 23113.