Mr. Cleven Smith  was born October 21, 1934 in Holly Springs, Mississippi the son of Frank H. Smith and Georgia (Barksdale) Smith.       On Monday, October 2, 2017 at the age of 82, he exchanged this life peacefully at home surrounded by family and was welcomed into the loving arms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for eternal rest.

He left Holly Springs at the age of 16 and moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1952.  ‟Clev” as some called him, joined the Providence Missionary Baptist Church where he served faithfully as an Usher for over 40 years.  Cleven started working for General Motors - Defiance, Ohio in 1964 and retired in 1994 with 30 years of service.  He was a member of the UAW Local 211 and the General Motors Retirees Club.

Cleven was married to the late Katie Lee (Matthews) Smith. He was also preceded in death by a son, Felix Grant, Jr.;  four sisters, Muggie F. Smith, Frances Scruggs, Allie M. Smith and Maud Clark and two brothers, Curtis Smith and Eary Jones.

He was an avid hunter, fisherman, card and pool player. His fondest memories were to ride horses as a child and how he helped train them.

‟Daddy Cle” leaves to cherish many loving memories to his children, Felicae Bright, Saraha Rile, Cordell Smith, Frederica Hardy, Beatrice Ward and Elizabeth Dunbar; his siblings, Dessie Honer and I.B. (Thelma) Smith; special granddaughters, Dijannea Hardy and Devonna Hardy; a special niece, Carolyn Williams; special friends, Ike Holman and Aster Wilson; his canine friends, Cricket and Blue along with a host of other grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. 

~He will be laid to rest in Highland Park Cemetery~

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