Melvin T. Smith, Jr.

Melvin Thomas Smith, Jr. was born on the 26th of May in 1965 to the proud parents of Elizabeth and the late Melvin T. Smith, Sr.  He began his journey beyond this life on the 27th of March in 2020 with his brother by his bedside. Melvin is known as Jr. by his family.  Jr. is also known as Truck Turner.

He is also an original member of the “Rock Pile Family” (The Neighborhood Kids). He attended Woodrow Wilson High School. While there, he played football. He later joined the Job Corps and trained in firefighting.  Jr. was very knowledgeable on certain subjects. He truly enjoyed debating with others especially when they did not realize from the start that he knew exactly what he was talking about. Think back – did you have one of those occasions with him – you will remember on your way home. He could find humor in anything.

His favorite past time was watching his favorite professional football team – Dallas Cowboys. He found great joy keeping up on with their schedule and other teams. He also enjoyed fishing and crabbing. He considered himself to be a Master at Bar-B-Cuing and made his own secret sauce.

He has worked a variety of jobs; ranging from construction,  bouncing at night clubs and security.  He was actually doing security at the New Jersey airport and witnessed the 1^st plane crash on 9/11. He eventually  relocated to Georgia, and continued doing security at their court house. He loved his job. He would quietly joke on the defendants, not for what they did, but because they got caught.

It may be hard to believe with his size and rough exterior that he was a sensitive, emotional, loving, and caring person. Being a father and a grandfather gave him his greatest joy.  Closest to his heart were his daughter, Kellye Winston, his only child and her twins, Jazzy and Jaylan (8 y/o) and Ali (7-months).

Jr. believed in God. He joined Third Baptist Church, Portsmouth, VA in 1982. He worshipped as a Baptist and he fully understood the church building was not God, but a place to fellowship.

His last ten (10) years has been an ongoing fight for life. He fought a “good fight”. Well done, Truck, now take your rest.

Melvin was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Scales and paternal grandmother, Virginia Smith, and paternal grandfather, Joseph Smith.  He leaves to cherish his memory, his mother and step-father, Elizabeth White (Joseph) of Suffolk, VA,  wife, Jackie Smith of  Philadelphia, PA, daughter,  Kellye Winston and her children of Newport News, VA , brother, Reverend Irewood Smith (Linda) of Tappahannock, VA,  and sister, Yvette Smith of Portsmouth, VA.  He also leaves a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.