Rev. Dr. Charles David Smith

The Reverend Dr. Charles David Smith, 76, of Louisianan, died July 16, 2022. Chuck was born in Arkansas June 3, 1946, but called Lafayette, Louisiana, his home. He graduated from Lafayette High School in 1964 and spent the next two decades working and raising a family. In the 1960s, he marched in favor of civil rights for all people.

While serving as an elder at Faith Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Metairie, Louisiana, Churck decided to return to school and complete his religious education. He earned a Bachelors of Science in Philosophy from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1987. He was ordained as a Cumberland Presbyterian Minister in October, 1990. He earned a Masters in Divinity in May 1991 and a Doctor of Ministry in 1999, both from Memphis Theological Seminary.

He served as a pastor of several Presbyterian churches in Louisiana and Mississippi. He was a Chaplain for a year in the Pastoral Care Unit of Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge. He also served as a Chaplain at Angola State Prison and Feliciana Forensic Facility.

Rev. Dr. Smith spent his life trying to help others and leave this world a better place. He loved to learn. As a child, he enjoyed reading encyclopedias and he continued to love history and learning throughout his life which resulted in him winning most Trivial Pursuit games even when it was him versus the whole family. His pastimes included reading military history books, flying and building model airplanes (primarily military planes), metal detecting for civil war bullets and relics, and serving as a Chaplain in a re-enactment unit all of which were continued education disguised as fun. He was a huge fan of the original Star Wars and Top Gun movies and the tv series M*A*S*H, NCIS, and Law & Order. He loved spending time with family and friends. He loved to laugh – particularly at the Cajun humor of his brother A.J. Despite his birthplace, he was an LSU fan.

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