Lydell Craig Smith

LYDELL CRAIG SMITH, son of the late L. Z. Smith and Mary Smith, entered this life on February 16, 1963 in Baltimore, MD. After a lengthy illness, God called for an Angel Warrior and Craig fit the assignment. He was called for duty on October 31, 2023. Craig, as we call him was educated in the Baltimore City Public School System. He worked in many trades but his favorites were construction, welding, and ultimately becoming a CDL truck driver, over the road and local. He loved those trucks so much. He had a passion for driving. He loved being in a truck. On February 27, 1984 he married Sandy Clayton. He was a loving husband and father. He wanted the world for his kids and did his best to provide it to them. He also loved family and the very meaning of it. There was no one he wouldn’t help or take in for a time and was always there for friends. After his mom and dad passed, Craig was the Guru of the family with so much wisdom. He would talk with everyone and give advice and his opinion on things whether you wanted it or not. Ultimately it was usually helpful and good advice. He has always been a protector of his sisters. He was the only boy of five sisters he loved all of them differently but it was a customized special way of love for each of them. Craig was a fighter from growing up on Monastery Avenue and hanging out in Edmondson Village to all over Baltimore City. As he got older his fight turned to injustice and making things right and always demanding to be treated as a Black man and a respectful human. He wouldn’t allow you to do any different. He loved his Pan-African flag and displayed it proudly. He would always say, “Like Sam Cooke would sing, A Change Gonna Come”. The beautiful legacy he leaves behind and all the precious and loving memories will be cherished by: his devoted wife of 39 years, Sandy Smith; his children, Lydell C. Smith Jr. (CJ), Mr. Odell Smith, Shardell Muhammad and Janaira Jackson; four grandchildren; five sisters, Francine Miller, Dellany Ware Smith preceded him in death, Sandra Smith, Zeta Graham and Valerie Smith (Lala Muhammad); sister-in-law, Katina Wallace Keyes (Carl Keyes); mother and father-inlaw, Carolyn and Levone Wallace; and a host of uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends. With everlasting love until we meet again. Peace.

Tributes

Lydell Craig Smith

February 16, 1963 - October 31, 2023