Apostle Vincent Leroy Smith Sr.

Apostle Vincent Leroy Smith, age 56, of New Haven, CT transitioned from his Earthly Tabernacle to his Eternal Home on early Thursday morning, December 9, 2022. He was born on October 17, 1966, in New Haven, CT to the union of the late Bishop Charles Smith, Sr. and Dr. Zettie B. Smith. Apostle Smith was the youngest out his siblings and was spoiled rotten. He attended Ivy Street Elementary School, Jackie Robinson, and Wilbur Cross, all in New Haven, CT. He spent his college years at The Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, Ohio where he studied Mass Communications. Apostle Smith was very active and faithful to the ministry as he served under his father. Along with being a song writer, he served in various auxiliaries. To name a few, Male Chorus, Jr. and Sr. Usher board, Sunday School, several choirs, Praise and Worship leader for over twenty years, Jr. President of the General Young People Christian League of the Unified Freewill Baptist Churches, Inc. Eventually he became the only unanimously voted President of the General Young People Christian League of the Unified Freewill Baptist Churches, Inc. As he began to walk in the calling of God he became an Associate Minister, and Evangelist. His initial sermon was on July 26, 1986, entitled “Did You Sign the Right Contract?” The Lord continued to exalt Vincent and on August 1992, he was ordained Elder by the late Chief Prelate, Bishop Jonathan Powell. Hearkening to the voice of the Lord and former instructions given to him by his father, Bishop Charles Smith Sr. (before his demise), Elder Vincent Smith humbly and obediently took his father’s mantle upon him and on December 3, 2000, he became the Pastor of The Morning Star Church and the Presiding Prelate of the Freewill Holiness Churches, Inc. He has served as a member of The Morning Star Deliverance Ministries for over 56 years, Freewill Holiness Churches Inc. (Volume of the Book Deliverance Church International) as Chief Apostle. He is the president of the Word-Fest Conference an interdenominational fellowship of Christian youth, member of the Joint College of African American Pentecostal Bishops, under the leadership of the late Archbishop J. Delano Ellis. Having honored membership in the following church organizations, The Connecticut 2nd Jurisdiction of the COGIC (Bishop Hester D. Bordeaux-Presiding Prelate), The Community Churches of God in Stamford CT (Bishop Michael D. Densmore, Presiding Prelate), The Middle Atlantic Conference of the Unified Freewill Baptist Churches Inc (General Bishop C. Nathan Edwers, Presiding Prelate), The General Conference of the Unified Freewill Baptist Churches Inc. (Bishop Elijah Davis Jr. General Presiding Prelate). Apostle Smith earned his Doctor of Divinity and the Humanitarian Social Service Award from the Heart Bible Institute University on October 5, 2019. Apostle Smith is not a stranger to working in the community having housed the Monday and Thursday morning breakfast program in the church’s Bishop Charles Smith Fellowship Hall. He was an instructor for the Greater New Haven Literacy Volunteers Program. As well as being a relevant member of the Greater New Haven Commission on Equal Opportunity. Above all that he is an active member of the Greater New Haven Clergy Association, having served as Treasurer, Vice President, and Executive Coordinator. Apostle Vincent L. Smith Sr. takes no credit but humbly states,” It is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes”. Psalms 118:23 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all; (Psalm 34:19) And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. (Joel 2:25) Apostle Vincent L. Smith Sr. leaves to cherish his memory, his loving children Amber R. Smith of Hamden, CT, Diamond M. Smith of New Haven, CT, Vincent L. Smith Jr., and Jonathan M. Smith (Evangelist Shawn Outlaw) of Middletown, DE. His grandchildren, Valerie A. Smith and Zoe M. Smith-Cox of Hamden, CT. His siblings, Doreatha Byrams of Hampton, VA, Edith Fortes (Stephan Fortes) of New Haven, CT, Deacon Samuel Smith (Overseer Ophelia Smith) of New Haven, CT, Carole A. Smith of Whiteville, NC, Vivian Dildy of West Haven, CT. His aunt Edythe Bryant (Henry Bryant) of Hamden, CT. His great aunt Mattie Smith of West Haven, CT. His loving Sugarlump ,Pastor Yvette Dawn Speight. His god-mother, Ms Emma Lewis, god-daughters (daughter) La’Toya Garrett-Smith and Minister TaMesha Greene. His god-son LaMar Greene. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and spiritual sons and daughters. His special friends Apostle Martha Gould, Pastor Roger Wilkins, and Bishop David Burgess (Lori Burgess), Bishop Deandre Nixon, Elder Cherie Greene. His faithful adjutant Anthony Abdul Lateef. Pastor Brian Bellamy and Apostle J Kelly Edge. Predeceased by his parents Bishop Charles Smith Sr. and Dr. Zettie B. Smith, his first wife Valerie Smith, his son Jasper A. Smith, his brother Deacon Charles Smith Jr., and his brother-in-law Larry Dildy. You have fought a good fight. Take your rest. You will be missed, but never forgotten. Humbly submitted, Your loving family

Apostle Vincent Leroy Smith Sr.

October 17, 1966 - December 9, 2022