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Cecil and Corinne Smith
"He who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward." (Proverbs 11:18)
These two native Memphians have become pillars in the Central Church family. Cecil has been an elder for more than a decade and is the head usher, working with a large group of men. Corinne works with our women greeters and has taught Sunday school and Precept for many years in the past.
This couple first became aware of each other during their years at Central High School, started dating when Cecil began Memphis State College (now the University of Memphis), and married April 20, 1951.
Their marriage started out like many of their generation. Military training and the Korean War drew Cecil away from home and resulted in several separations from his family. He joined the Army’s 844th Engineers’ Aviation Battalion and ended up on active duty at Ft. Huachucha, Arizona. Corinne was with him but was pregnant with their first child and went home to Memphis to deliver. Cecil got a three day pass and had two weekend days to hitch back to Memphis when Sherrie was born. He had time to see her briefly and head back.
The young family moved six weeks later to California where Cecil had been transferred. Another separation came when Sherrie was only five months old. Daddy was shipped to the Aleutians. "I was building runways there for four months," Cecil explains. This undoubtedly led him to decide to go back to school and get an early release from the Army. So in 1953 they moved back to Memphis and Cecil again enrolled in Memphis State College.
Cecil took a job in an insurance firm and the family began growing. Sherrie gained four brothers, Brad, Kenny, Stan, and Vince. When Cecil opened his own firm, Cecil Smith Insurance Agency, Corinne became his first employee. "I would take five to school and then come to work." In 1998 Cecil retired as president and left two of his sons, a son-in-law, and a daughter-in-law to run the business.
Life has not been without challenges. One of their sons was severely ill at a young age and needed expensive surgery. But both Cecil and Corinne had become followers of Jesus Christ while young people and trusted the Lord through this time, who provided marvelously.
Corinne offers this wisdom: "You’ve got to have the Lord as your foundation and put the Lord, and each other, first - then family." And she emphasizes that respect for one’s spouse is a high priority in a successful marriage. Cecil adds, "I think the mother and daddy’s love and respect for each other goes down to the kids."
In 2001 they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary which their children hosted at Central Church’s facilities. Over one hundred twenty guests attended and the church presented them with a special Bible to commemorate their years of faithfulness to the Lord and to His church.
This wonderful family and its spiritual accomplishments are evidence again that "He who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward." (Proverbs 11:18)
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