Richard Desmond Smith

Richard Desmond Smith also known as “Rick” or “Smitty” was born May 3, 1954 to Carrie Marie and Kermit B. Smith in Buffalo, NY. He was the youngest of four boys and number five in a family of six children.
He grew up in Willert Park and on Howard Street along with many of his extended family members. Rick attended Buffalo Public School #75, Clinton Junior High School, and later graduated from East High School in 1972. As a young boy he marched with the Cadets marching band in Buffalo. He enjoyed playing basketball every day with his family and friends. As an adult Rick, along with some of his family members, learned Karate where he advanced to an Orange Belt. He and some of his close family members also joined a Pool League. Rick was very close with his family growing up.
One thing everyone would say is that Rick was loved by everyone, family, friends, and coworkers. He worked hard and he loved all of his family members. He was a great provider and took care of his family. He was a quiet and kind man. Rick grew up attending Mt. Zion Church of God Holiness where he was baptized as a child and the love of God instilled in him. Rick joined Striving for Protection Ministries and was baptized again as an adult.
Rick worked at American Optical and the Buffalo Evening News. In 1980, he was called by God to serve as a member of the Buffalo Fire Department, where he worked diligently until he retired in January 2002. He continued to work in service at Advanced Fire Protection Service in Ft. Walton Beach, Fl. until he retired in April 2016.
Rick met Cassandra Monica Hughes in November, 1971. They dated for years and grew up together. They were united in holy matrimony on July 18, 1981. They recently celebrated 39 years of marriage and almost 50 years together.
Early in the morning on July 24, 2020, God called Rick home to be with Him. He was preceded in death by his mother and father Carrie M. and Kermit B. Smith; and brother, Alvin K. Smith.
He leaves to cherish his memory, wife Cassandra Smith; children, Frederick Hughes (Tonanisha), Latanya Roberts (Shawn), Takeesha Davis and Sharese Hall; grandchildren: Mia, Rasheem, Fred, Timothy, Montreal, Jazmyn, Brittany, Chanya, Amir, Jaila, Cam’ren, Aryana, and Bryson; great grandchildren: Layana, Jordan, Kai, Amryn, Kingston, Ny’Eli, and Imani; brothers, Garnell Smith (Jeanette) and Carl Smith (LaDonna); sisters, Yvonne Smith and Renee Turner (Reginald Sr.); mother-in-law, Elizabeth Hughes; brothers-in-law, Leon Hughes and Christopher Hughes (Murriel); sisters-in-law: Cynthia Hughes, Sanjerettia Hughes, Fanetta Hughes, Evangeline Hughes-Lamptey; and a host of family and friends that loved him dearly.