Henry Smith

June 28, 1944 - January 1, 2021

Mr. Henry Smith, Sr. (Vaughn) was born on June 28, 1944 to the late Louise Sanders Smith and Reverend Leon “Boise” Davis Sr., in Gastonia, North Carolina. He gained his wings on January 1, 2021 at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina at the age of 76 years old. He was a cherished husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, cousin, mentor, and a beloved friend to many. Mr. Smith loved God and was a proud member of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mr. Smith is survived by his wife Mrs. Bettye Phillips Smith; his daughters Sharon Lynnette Smith and Henrietta Smith Cunningham (Charlotte, NC); his sons Henry Arden Smith, Jr. (Tavares) and Antione Kitelo Smith (Charlotte, NC); his sisters Lillian Smith, Vanessa Brown, and Patricia Goode (Gastonia, NC); his brothers, Leon Davis, Jr., and James Davis (Gastonia, NC); his nine grandchildren and his eight great-grandchildren. Mr. Henry Smith, Sr. received his high school education at Highland High School (Gastonia, NC) and West Charlotte High School (Charlotte, NC) and moved to Charlotte at the age of sixteen. He later married his beautiful wife of 53 years, Bettye Phillips Smith. In his earlier years, he was employed at Sealtest Dairy, Harris Teeter, Fruehauf, and Firestone, prior to being led to explore entrepreneurship. Mr. Smith started H & H Lawn Service and Landscaping in 1985 as one of the first black landscapers in Charlotte. Throughout the years, he worked alongside his sons, son-in-laws, and grandsons to establish a lasting family business. He was a perfectionist, providing world-class customer service and creating signature yards. Mr. Smith was highly respected amongst black entrepreneurs and was viewed as a pioneer in the community. As a mentor, he inspired many people to start their own businesses, especially the black youth. Wherever Mr. Smith went, he met no strangers. He talked to people of all walks of life and desired to learn about various cultures. He often quizzed his family on Spanish words and shared his newfound knowledge from the people he met. Mr. Henry Smith, Sr. loved singing, dancing, modeling, fishing, but most importantly, he enjoyed spending time with his family. He found joy in bringing them together for holidays, random gatherings, and Sunday morning visits to “the best church in Charlotte,” Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Henry Smith, Sr. was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter, Jarrisha Mackey-Johnson (Robert Johnson); his sisters, Betty Jean Smith Woods Monroe, Doretha Smith Davidson, Reverend Gladys L. Smith Ervin, Reverend Brenda Collins Conner, and Johnettia Davis; his brothers, John Andy “Sonny” Smith, and Linwood Smith. He is deeply cherished by his grandchildren (of Jarrisha) Jarica Mackey, Robert Jamall Johnson, Jarcia Johnson, Clifton Jarrod Johnson, and Jarvona Kelley; (of Sharon) Jaylin Farrar; (of Henrietta) Latonia Cunningham, Dr. LaCorey Cunningham, and Gregory Cunningham, Jr. He felt blessed to nurture his eight great grand-children, (of Jarica) Sequoia Bogans and Ariel Bogans; (of Jarrod) Kingston Johnson; (of Latonia) James Singletary III, Abigail Brown, and Marcel Winston; (of Jarvona) Mason Houston and Aerian Porter. Mr. Smith was loved by his family, friends, customers, and members of his community and will sincerely be missed.