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A resolution honoring the Reverend Dr. Kelly Miller Smith, Jr. on his retirement.
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WHEREAS, the Reverend Dr. Kelly Miller Smith, Jr. was born in Mound Bayou, Mississippi to the late Reverend Dr. Kelly Miller Smith, Sr. and Dr. Alice C. Smith Risby; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Dr. Kelly Miller Smith, Jr. was first licensed to preach in 1974 and was ordained at the First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill, in 1979, where his father served as pastor for 33 years; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Smith received a B.A. degree in Music from Morehouse College in 1976 and later attended Morehouse School of Religion of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, graduating with a Master of Divinity degree in 1983; and
WHEREAS, in 1993, he received a Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, where he was a Proctor-Moss Fellow; and
WHEREAS, in 1991, after serving for six years as pastor of Berean Baptist Church in Nashville, he accepted the pastorate of Mount Olive Baptist Church in Knoxville, where he served for 19 years; and
WHEREAS, from 1997 through 2013, Dr. Smith served as the Executive Director of the Sunday School Publishing Board of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, he has served on many boards and in many positions on the local, state, and national level and is a member of the Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Smith has three children, Sharanda Nechole Smith, Valerie Taneece Hayes, and Kelly Miller Smith III, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild; and
WHEREAS, since 2010, Dr. Smith has served as the pastor of First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill, which celebrated its 158th church anniversary in December; and
WHEREAS, this year, after more than 40 years of pastoral service, Dr. Kelly Miller Smith, Jr. will retire; and
WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the Metropolitan Council recognize Dr. Kelly Miller Smith, Jr. for his contributions to Nashville and Davidson County.
NOW, THER...
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