TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR PASTOR BOBBY L. SMITH, SR., FOR TWENTY YEARS OF DEDICATED MINISTRY TO THE MEMBERS OF ZION CANAAN BAPTIST CHURCH AND TO HIS COMMUNITY.

Whereas, the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina are pleased to learn that Pastor Bobby L. Smith, Sr., will be honored for twenty years of devoted ministry to Zion Canaan Baptist Church at a banquet to be held at Fort Jackson on June 14, 2011; and

Whereas, born in Wheeler County, Georgia, Bobby Smith grew up in East Orange, New Jersey, and served his country with distinction for twenty years in the United States Air Force; and

Whereas, a cum laude graduate of Fort Valley State University with a bachelor's degree in music, Pastor Smith also studied at Moody Bible College, East Carolina, El Paso Community College, and Macon Junior College, and he earned a master's degree in 1986 from the Interdenominational Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia; and

Whereas, he began his ministerial service in 1975 as the associate pastor of Union Grove Baptist Church in Warner Robins, Georgia, and was installed as pastor in 1977, serving there until 1991; and

Whereas, he received certification in clinical pastoral education from the Milledgeville Hospital in Georgia and served as the first African-American chaplain of the Warner Robins Police Department; and

Whereas, he answered the call of Zion Canaan Baptist Church in 1991, and under his inspired leadership, the church has grown numerically and spiritually to glorify God and exalt Jesus Christ in worship, evangelism, discipleship, fellowship, and ministry; and

Whereas, currently he serves as a member of the South Carolina Baptist E & M Convention, as a teacher in the South Carolina Baptist Congress of Christian Education, and as a member of the executive board of the Gethsemane Baptist Association; and

Whereas, together with his beloved wife, the former Carolyn Jean Hill, he reared six fine children, who have blessed them with fifteen adoring grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly are grateful for the spiritual legacy that Pastor Bobby L. Smith, Sr., has built at Zion Canaan Baptist Church and wish him many more years of successful ministry there. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, recognize and honor Pastor Bobby L. Smith, Sr., for twenty years of dedicated ministry to the members of Zion Canaan Baptist Church and to his community.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Pastor Bobby L. Smith, Sr.