AHOSKIE – Mr. Donald Lee Smithwick, age 71, died at his home in Ahoskie on Monday, June 4, 2012 with his loving wife at his side.  He was a native of Bertie County.

Mr. Smithwick graduated from Merry Hill High School.  Following high school he graduated from the Newport News Shipyard Apprentice School and was employed by the Shipyard for a period of thirteen years.  After leaving the Shipyard he owned and operated a commercial fishing business for seven years.  Mr. Smithwick then started a career at Perdue Farms, Inc in Lewiston where he rose to the level of plant manager and retired after thirteen years of dedicated service.  Mr. Smithwick owned and operated a commercial catfish farm and additionally owned and operated a poultry farm for twenty-seven years.

Mr. Smithwick was a deacon at Merry Hill Baptist Church and later transferred his membership to St. John’s Baptist Church in Ahoskie where he became a deacon and served as Chairmen of the Deacons.  He also served as fire chief and president of the board of the St. John’s Fire Department.

In addition to his many accomplishments in business and community service his greatest commitment was to his family.  Mr. Smithwick was a loving husband, father and grandfather.

Preceding him is his father, Bernard Todd Smithwick.

Surviving are his wife, Angelia Smithwick of the home; his mother, Margaret Perry Smithwick of Ahoskie; sons, David Smithwick and his wife Jackie of Greenville, William Brown and Nikki Barnes of Ahoskie, and Justin Smithwick and Morgan Mills of Greenville; a daughter, Melanie Smithwick Jethro Chapin of Edenton; and one brother, Jimmy Smithwick and his wife Jean of Ft. Walton Beach, FL.  Also surviving are seven grandchildren, Jessica and Derek Jethro, Caroline Smithwick, Alexus and Haley Chapin, Kayla Hudgins and Kassidy Barnes.

Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, June 7, 2012 at 3 p.m. at e St. John’s Baptist Church in Ahoskie with the Rev. Woody Copeland and the Rev. Gary Medford officiating.  The interment will follow at the Ahoskie Cemetery in Ahoskie.

The family will receive friends at the St. John’s Baptist Church on Wednesday evening from 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the St. John’s Baptist Church, Building Fund, 1650 NC Hwy 461, Ahoskie, NC  27910.

Sykes Funeral Service of Rich Square is handling the arrangements and online condolences may be directed to the family at www.sykesfuneralservice.com.