ATMORE – Mr. Willie Lewis Smith, 61, of Atmore transitioned into eternal sleep on Thursday, March 22, 2012, at his residence.

Smith was a native of Atmore and had lived in Baltimore for many years. He was an architecture designer in the construction industry. He attended Southern High School in Baltimore.

Smith is preceded in death by his father, Earnest L. Smith; one brother, Wince Smith and his grandparents, Annie L. Williams, Lewis Smith and Violet Smith.

Those left to cherish his memory are: one daughter, Nira Mitchell of Baltimore; one son, Shawn Smith of Baltimore; his mother, Anna Rene Smith of Atmore; five sisters, Doris (James) Bradley, Mary (Pete) Whiting Johnson, Anna Jean Anderson, all of Atmore, Elouise (James) Sprueil of Colorado Springs and Gladys (Earl) Cobb of Baltimore; two brothers, Glenn Ross Smith of Denver and Charles (Bernidine) Smith of Pinneyflatt, Tenn.; one sister-in-law, Bernice Smith of Atmore and three grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 27, 2012, at 1 p.m. at the Empowerment Tabernacle Christian Center in Atmore with the Rev. Darryl North, pastor, officiating.

Interment was in the Fairview Cemetery. A public viewing was held Monday, March 26, 2012, from 2 to 8:30 p.m. in the Jones and Longmire Memorial Chapel of Turner Funeral Chapel, LLC. His body laid in state at the church for one hour prior to the funeral service with Turner Funeral Chapel, LLC directing.