Smith, Rev. Max Wilson

KANNAPOLIS Rev. Max Wilson Smith, 74, went to be with his Lord Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015, at his home, after a three week battle with pulmonary fibrosis. He was born Oct. 29, 1941, in Cabarrus County, the son of the late Avery Council Smith and Elizabeth Wilson Smith. Max was a 1960 graduate of Landis High School, later received his Bachelor of Science degree in political science at UNC-Asheville and his Master of Divinity degree from Southeastern Baptist Seminary at Wake Forest. Throughout his faithful career, Max served as a Baptist minister at the following churches, Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Hendersonville; Rock Spring Baptist Church, Louisburg; Buff Creek Baptist Church, Sylva; Calvary Baptist Church, Canton; Main Street Baptist Church, Hendersonville; Crabtree Baptist Church, Clyde; and as Associate Pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, Kannapolis. His civic activities include being a volunteer for Special Olympics in Hendersonville; as a police chaplain in Hendersonville; as Vice-President of the N.C. Apple Festival in Hendersonville from 1999 to 2000. He also served as a Civitan Club Officer in Canton during the 1980s. Max has been a model train enthusiast since childhood, a love he inherited from his dad. He always set up his train table every Christmas for his three sons, then for his grandchildren. Eventually, the table stayed up year round! They knew it was papaw's toy! He also enjoyed watching the Carolina Panthers, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Charlotte Hornets, ECU Pirates, and all of his childrens' favorite teams. He loved fishing, tracking weather in each town in which his children lived, and keeping up with current events online in the towns where he had pastored. Max also loved working outdoors in the yard, planting flowers, and setting up bird feeders, but his most passionate love was Calvary Baptist Church in Kannapolis, where he served as Associate Pastor after retiring from 35 years pastoring in the mountains. He was married to Sherry there, ordained there, and returned there to serve since 2005. His prayer was always for God to pour out his abundant blessings and power upon Calvary. A service in celebration of his life will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 21, at Calvary Baptist Church in Kannapolis, officiated by Dr. R.J. Hammond and the Rev. Darrell Coble. Burial will follow at Carolina Memorial Park in Kannapolis. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 20, at Whitley's Funeral Home. Survivors include his wife, Sherry Watkins Smith; his sons, Phil and wife, Dee of Swansboro; Kenny and wife, Brandi of Marion, Va.; and Kevin and wife, Dana of Kingsport, Tenn.; grandchildren, Brock of Swansboro, and Kierstin of Marion, Va.; and two sisters, Frances Kiser of Kernersville, and Kaye Evans of Salisbury. Memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 703 Buick Ave., Kannapolis, NC 28083. Online condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com.