Obituary for Apostle Lamont Smothers, Sr.
Obituary
Let me tell you a little about myself. I was born on September 22, 1976 in Chicago, Illinois to the union of Jean Audrey and the late Lillian Marie Bell. My name is Lamont Smothers, but everybody calls me Tank.
My grandparents, Benny and Marie Smothers, Lawyer and Ora Bell; my mother, Lillian Marie Bell; my uncles, James Fitzgerald Smothers, Benny (Jr.) Smothers and my Auntie/Mama, Annie Lee Williams, my brother-in-law Eric C. Russell and Goddaughter Briana D. Jenkins preceded me in death.
I accepted Christ at 10 years old at New Holy Temple M.B. Church under the leadership of my grandfather, the late Emeritus Benny B. Smothers, Sr. Throughout the years, I served as a musician, choir member, director, played drums and served wherever I was needed in church. My musical talent was enhanced and polished with the help of my uncle Fitzgerald (Fish).
I graduated from Daniel Webster Public School and Steinmetz High School. After high school, I enlisted in the United States Navy in August of 1995.
My first marriage was to Rhoda Thompson. We didn’t have any children, but I helped raise her son, Roderick McGhee.
In 2004, I met and married the love of my life…my Honey, April D. Russell. We were blessed with two beautiful children, Lamont (TJ) Smothers II (this is when my name changed to for the very first time) and Lamia Jazz Marie Smothers. I was also a father to Kyriel King, Justice Powell, Kyla Betts, and Destiny Smothers.
I accepted my calling into ministry in July of 2006 and preached my very first sermon in December of that same year under the leadership of Bishop Pearlie Mae Champion and the Peace, Mercy & Charity Church. This is when my name changed to Minister Lamont Smothers Sr.
I was licensed in 2007 as a minister under the leadership of Pastor Elaine Smothers of New Holy Temple Missionary Baptist Church. In 2009, I was ordained as an Elder under the leadership of Bishop Leon Peoples of Good Shepherd Grace Missionary Baptist Church (this is when my name changed to Elder Lamont Smothers Sr.). In 2009, The Lord blessed me to become Secretary General of Grace Covenant Fellowship under the leadership of the late Bishop Gerald Long, Agape Faith Fellowship under the leadership of Bishop Daniel W Lee, Sr.
In the year of 2010, the Lord gave me a vision and mandate to organize my 1st. church. On November 4th, NEW DIMENSIONS CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES was born, then my name changed again from Elder to Pastor. During this time, we had a summer and after school program and daycare center. We also had a food program to feed the needy and homeless.
God still had work for me to do, in 2012, I was consecrated as a Bishop of United Churches of Christ, under the leadership of Bishop Roger N Lane. Then my name changed again from Pastor to Bishop.
After much prayer, God gave me the permission to relocate to Huntsville, Al. This is where the Lord allowed me to birth Dominion and Power Baptist Church (D.A.P) on November 4th. 2019.
On September 18th. In 2021, I was affirmed as an Apostle of the Lord’s Church by Apostles Dr. Frederick V. Cullins Jr. and Dr. Larry E. Tabron Jr, where Dominion and Power Network of Independent Churches Inc. was formed, and then my name changed again from Bishop to Apostle Lamont Paul Smothers Sr., Apostle Primus and Presiding Prelate.
On this new journey, God led me to open my church to all young ministers who needed guidance. I believed in pouring into young ministers by mentoring and supporting them in ministry and allowed them to use the pulpit to help them grow, I was multi-talented; a Jack of all Trades but a Master at one…cooking and grilling. KING KONG AIN’T GOT NOTHING ON ME! (LOL) . I also dedicated my time and made myself available to the youth, the community, family and friends. I just loved helping and serving God’s people.
I made my final elevation on October 8, 2021, then my name changed for the last time from Apostle to Servant.
I leave the treasures of my memories and legacy to: My wife of 17 years, April D. Smothers; my children, Kyriel (Brandi), Justice, Kyla, Lamont II, Lamia and Destiny; my siblings, Anthony (Yvette) Smothers, my other half Monica (Pete) Hodges (I’ve always said my wife was my better half and my twin was my other half), Gene (Darnell) Smothers, Tieasha (Dondree’) Hill, Charles (Cassandra) Bell, Doris (Jerry) Robinson, James Bell, and Barbara (Urban) Cross; my aunts, Verlia-Auntie Momma (George) Caldwell, Elaine Smothers, Sharon Smothers, Debra (Anthony) Nicholson, Denise Holly, and Monica Smothers; my uncles, McKinley Smothers, Ricky (Helen) Smothers and Hoyt Smothers; great aunts and uncles, James (Loretta) Madison, Lee Madison, Mary Selvie, Louise (Clarence) Lowery, Emma (Benny) Smith, Gloria (Conrad), Alice Smothers-Patten, Mattie Smothers, Georgie Smothers my in-laws, Cynthia Hands, Fabian Hands, Lavelle (Diane) Hands, Latonia Stevenson (Sis) and Donyelle Russell; my godchildren: Robert Jenkins, Jr., Ethan Alexander, Shannon Akins, Demontay Banks, Chanthony Ward; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Let me tell you a little about myself. I was born on September 22, 1976 in Chicago, Illinois to the union of Jean Audrey and the late Lillian Marie Bell. My name is Lamont Smothers, but everybody calls me Tank.
My grandparents, Benny and Marie Smothers, Lawyer and Ora Bell; my mother, Lillian Marie Bell; my uncles, James Fitzgerald Smothers, Benny (Jr.) Smothers and my Auntie/Mama, Annie Lee Williams, my brother-in-law Eric C. Russell and Goddaughter Briana D. Jenkins preceded me in death.
I accepted Christ at 10 years old at New Holy Temple M.B. Church under the leadership of my grandfather, the late Emeritus Benny B. Smothers, Sr. Throughout the years, I served as a musician, choir member, director, played drums and served wherever I was needed in church. My musical talent was enhanced and polished with the help of my uncle Fitzgerald (Fish).
I graduated from Daniel Webster Public School and Steinmetz High School. After high school, I enlisted in the United States Navy in August of 1995.
My first marriage was to Rhoda Thompson. We didn’t have any children, but I helped raise her son, Roderick McGhee.
In 2004, I met and married the love of my life…my Honey, April D. Russell. We were blessed with two beautiful children, Lamont (TJ) Smothers II (this is when my name changed to for the very first time) and Lamia Jazz Marie Smothers. I was also a father to Kyriel King, Justice Powell, Kyla Betts, and Destiny Smothers.
I accepted my calling into ministry in July of 2006 and preached my very first sermon in December of that same year under the leadership of Bishop Pearlie Mae Champion and the Peace, Mercy & Charity Church. This is when my name changed to Minister Lamont Smothers Sr.
I was licensed in 2007 as a minister under the leadership of Pastor Elaine Smothers of New Holy Temple Missionary Baptist Church. In 2009, I was ordained as an Elder under the leadership of Bishop Leon Peoples of Good Shepherd Grace Missionary Baptist Church (this is when my name changed to Elder Lamont Smothers Sr.). In 2009, The Lord blessed me to become Secretary General of Grace Covenant Fellowship under the leadership of the late Bishop Gerald Long, Agape Faith Fellowship under the leadership of Bishop Daniel W Lee, Sr.
In the year of 2010, the Lord gave me a vision and mandate to organize my 1st. church. On November 4th, NEW DIMENSIONS CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES was born, then my name changed again from Elder to Pastor. During this time, we had a summer and after school program and daycare center. We also had a food program to feed the needy and homeless.
God still had work for me to do, in 2012, I was consecrated as a Bishop of United Churches of Christ, under the leadership of Bishop Roger N Lane. Then my name changed again from Pastor to Bishop.
After much prayer, God gave me the permission to relocate to Huntsville, Al. This is where the Lord allowed me to birth Dominion and Power Baptist Church (D.A.P) on November 4th. 2019.
On September 18th. In 2021, I was affirmed as an Apostle of the Lord’s Church by Apostles Dr. Frederick V. Cullins Jr. and Dr. Larry E. Tabron Jr, where Dominion and Power Network of Independent Churches Inc. was formed, and then my name changed again from Bishop to Apostle Lamont Paul Smothers Sr., Apostle Primus and Presiding Prelate.
On this new journey, God led me to open my church to all young ministers who needed guidance. I believed in pouring into young ministers by mentoring and supporting them in ministry and allowed them to use the pulpit to help them grow, I was multi-talented; a Jack of all Trades but a Master at one…cooking and grilling. KING KONG AIN’T GOT NOTHING ON ME! (LOL) . I also dedicated my time and made myself available to the youth, the community, family and friends. I just loved helping and serving God’s people.
I made my final elevation on October 8, 2021, then my name changed for the last time from Apostle to Servant.
I leave the treasures of my memories and legacy to: My wife of 17 years, April D. Smothers; my children, Kyriel (Brandi), Justice, Kyla, Lamont II, Lamia and Destiny; my siblings, Anthony (Yvette) Smothers, my other half Monica (Pete) Hodges (I’ve always said my wife was my better half and my twin was my other half), Gene (Darnell) Smothers, Tieasha (Dondree’) Hill, Charles (Cassandra) Bell, Doris (Jerry) Robinson, James Bell, and Barbara (Urban) Cross; my aunts, Verlia-Auntie Momma (George) Caldwell, Elaine Smothers, Sharon Smothers, Debra (Anthony) Nicholson, Denise Holly, and Monica Smothers; my uncles, McKinley Smothers, Ricky (Helen) Smothers and Hoyt Smothers; great aunts and uncles, James (Loretta) Madison, Lee Madison, Mary Selvie, Louise (Clarence) Lowery, Emma (Benny) Smith, Gloria (Conrad), Alice Smothers-Patten, Mattie Smothers, Georgie Smothers my in-laws, Cynthia Hands, Fabian Hands, Lavelle (Diane) Hands, Latonia Stevenson (Sis) and Donyelle Russell; my godchildren: Robert Jenkins, Jr., Ethan Alexander, Shannon Akins, Demontay Banks, Chanthony Ward; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.