Obituary: Holland P. Smith

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Holland P. Smith, a pastor, home missionary and associational director of missions, died Nov. 2 in Round Rock. He was 89. Smith was born Nov. 16, 1926, in Stockdale, and he grew up in Kenedy, Kerrville, San Antonio, Henderson and Stephenville, all towns where his father was pastor. He made his profession of faith in Christ at age 7 and was ordained into the ministry at age 19 at First Baptist Church in Stephenville. He attended Baylor University, where he earned both his undergraduate and master’s degrees. While he was a student at Baylor, he was pastor of Blue Ridge Baptist Church in Falls County and Morgan Mill Baptist Church in Erath County. He married Theresa Mae Morphew of Paris on June 22, 1948. They had three sons, Stephen, Marshall and Daniel. His pastorates included First Baptist churches in Bremond, Seminole, Burnet and Mexia, along with Calvary Baptist in Bryan. In 1962, the Southern Baptist Convention’s Home Mission Board appointed him missionary to Minnesota-Wisconsin. He later was director of missions for South Central Area and Williamson Baptist Area in Texas. He was preceded in death by his wife of 27 years, Theresa, and son, Stephen. He is survived by Jeanne, his wife of 37 years; son, Marshall, and daughter-in-law, Mary Jane; son, Dan; step-daughter, Diana Oyler and son-in-law, Jim, of Champaign, Ill.; daughters-in-law Leslie Keeler and Laura Keeler; 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A memorial service is scheduled at 3 p.m. Nov. 15 at First Baptist Church in Round Rock.


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