Candace M Smith

Mitchen was born on May 7, 1975 unto Toby A. Gbeh and Aletha Johnson Cooper at the old Maternity Center in Bassa Community, Monrovia from birth to age six she was cared for by her paternal Aunt, Dehyeati Gbeh Sayuoh in Grand Bassa County. At age six she was brought to Monrovia and given to the care of her maternal Grandmother, Mother Eliza Stevens. Mitchen lived with her Grandmother until the early 80s when she came to her father and mother, Ester Mark Gbeh on the campus of the Lott Carey Baptist Mission School in Brewerville. Mamie as she was affectionately called by her siblings and friends attended the Lott Carey Baptist Mission School in Brewerville until 1990. In the same year she and her family migrated to the Buduburam Camp in Ghana as Refugees, she enrolled at the Abequa SDA Secondary Mission School in the Ashanti Region. In 1993 Mamie was sent to live with her Grandmother in the United States. She is a 1994 graduate of the Curtis High School on Staten Island, New York. It was while living at the Buduburam Camp in Ghana that Mithchen gave her life to Christ in 1990. Upon her profession of faith in Christ Mamie was baptized by her father, Toby A. Gbeh. She joined the Liberia Interdenominational Assembly, LIDA where she faithfully sang in the choir until her departure for the United States in 1992. Mitchen became a member of the Gates of Haven Prayer Band on Staten Island while living with Grandmother. In July of 2002 Mitchen and Otis Smith were Married at the New Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church on Elmora Avenue in Baltimore, MD. This Union was blessed with a son, Shane Christopher Smith. Mitchen and her family became part of the family of the People's Community Lutheran Church in Baltimore in 2003. At People's' Candace became a faithful member actively involved in the life of the ministry. She became a member of the choir. She was observed to have the gift for ministry. Sensing that calling on her life, she was consecrated as a minister. She preached during many special services and events uplifting and inspiring people. Her passion was for evangelism and she would meet people and talk with them about the lord, and subsequently invite them to church. She was firmly rooted in Christ and her faith could be readily seen, in her faithful attendance of Sunday School and Bible study; always eager to learn and follow her Lord and master. Candace developed and maintained many key relationships at Peoples' proving to be loyal and supportive friend. She was always encouraging and advisng others and was greatly respected and admired by her peers in the church. Mitchen was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 and after several years ofsurgical and chemotherapy treatments she went home to be with Christ on Sunday, July 11, 2010 at the hour of 6:45 P.M. Mitchen leaves to mourn her lost her loving husband, Otis Smith who faithfully supported her through out her illness; her son, Shane Christopher Smith, father and mother; Rev. Toby A. and Ester Mark Gbeh, Grandmother; Eliza Stevens, four sisters Matilda P. Gbeh, Ernestine Gbeh Allen, Eliza and Blessed Cooper; Eight brothers, Adolphus Kollie, Mannah O. Gbeh, Gbanyah, Pastor Rudolph, Ralph and Buster Johnson, Charm Cooper and Toby A. Gbeh ll; four uncles, James Weah Gbeh, S. Edward Gbeh, Ruben Cooper Croby Stevens, three Aunts; Dehyeati Gbeh Say-yuoh, Muries Demor, Frances Gbeh Wright, host of nephews, nieces, cousins; a father-in-law who dearly loved her, Gen. Edward W. Smith and adopted sister Roberta Clarke. Candace also leaves to mourn her loss several godmothers, god-sisters and very special friends in the Baltimore , through out the United States, Ghana and Liberia.

Tributes

Candace M Smith

May 7, 1975 - July 11, 2010