Shawn R. Smith Sr.

Shawn “Smitty” Renuard Smith Sr., 63, passed away on August 2, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. He was born August 23, 1954 to Hazel Lee Smith in Middletown, Ohio. Shawn spent his early childhood year in Middletown, Ohio moving to Columbus in 1963.  Shawn attended East High school before joining the U.S Army in 1974.  On November 29, 1979 he married Barbara L. Mack in Columbus; and their union produced four kids Aaron, Shawnta, Brandi, and Shawn Jr. 

Shawn’s military career lasted 20 years.He spent time in Germany, New Jersey, Kentucky, and Missouri. Shawn was a Vietnam Veteran and was deployed to assist during the Marine Barrack Bombing in Beirut, Lebanon 1983. In 1988, Shawn returned home to Ohio and joined the National Guard.  While in the National Guard, he was called up to work the Lucasville Prison Riots. Shawn began his career with Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) in 1989.  During his 20 plus years, he worked in many facilities meeting many great people along the way.  He was an active member of National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice, a Firearm Specialist, a Hostage Negotiator, and a member of the Gang Task force. Shawn retired from ODRC in 2013.

Shawn has never met a stranger.  He spoke to everyone he came in contact with and gave it to you straight.  He was always honest and spoke from the heart.  He loved his family more than anything and treated all his friends like family.  Shawn regularly attended the kids sporting events cheering loudly from the sideline. Shawn loved taking pictures every gathering he would attend, snapping hundreds of pictures over his lifetime. Shawn was a loyal Cleveland Browns fan, often caught wearing orange and brown .He enjoyed fishing, racket ball in his younger days, and visiting his hometown of Middletown.  Shawn was a mentor and role model to so many.  He was a father figure to many kids in the family and neighborhood that didn’t have one.  He will truly be missed by all.

Survivors include his wife Barbara; mother Hazel Smith; mother-in-law Hazel Mack; aunt Jessie Mae Gordon; sons, Aaron Mack of Virginia, Shawn (Hannah) Smith Jr. of Pataskala and Antwan of Columbus; daughters Shawnta Mack of Canal Winchester and Brandi Smith of Columbus; grandchildren Tarin, Brandon, Aaron Jr., Rayshawna, Tehron, Christopher, Ayden, Sharif, and Ava; sisters Cortesa Smith, Senethia (Micah) Osburn, Nichole Smith of Columbus; Nikki Smith of Maryland; Linda Bess of Reynoldsburg, Brenda (Booker) Vann, Donna Mack of Middletown and Yasmin Sikes of Virginia; brothers Mylan Smith of Columbus and Lawrence Mack of Dayton as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Visitation 11:00am and Funeral 12:00 noon Friday August 10, 2018 at MARLAN J. GARY FUNERAL HOME, THE CHAPEL OF PEACE EAST, 5456 E. Livingston Ave.

Interment with Military Honors at Glen Rest Memorial Estates