On March 3, the Lord called Attorney Lonnie Ray Smith home. Born March 8, 1954 to the late Albert and Josephine Smith, he grew up in Jena, Louisiana, the fourth of eight siblings. Lonnie was an avid learner and a lifelong champion of social justice. After graduating from Jena High School, he attended Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, graduating with a liberal arts degree and earning the Juris Doctor degree in 1980. He was admitted to the Louisiana Bar in 1981. Attorney Smith practiced law in North Louisiana where he became the first black attorney in LaSalle Parish, he was later recruited by Southwest Louisiana Legal Services, Inc., based at the time in Lake Charles. He served Legal Services for many years, first as a staff attorney and eventually as director of the organization. He later resumed private practice for many years until the onset of the Alzheimer''s disease that led to his death. He was a long-time member of the Louis Martinet Society and the Louisiana State Bar Association. Throughout his professional career, Attorney Smith fought tirelessly for justice, advocating for the young, the underserved and poor.

Lonnie married Martha Bellow in 1987. Although they were not blessed with children, together they helped raise and mentored at least two generations of beloved nieces, nephews and other community youth. Lonnie was a faithful member of Greater Live Oak Baptist Church. He was involved in the local community with organizations such as Friends of Sisters Surviving, the Louisiana Black Pages, North Lake Charles Little League and Moss Regional Hospital Advisory Board. Lonnie was a big sports fan and supporter of area high schools and his beloved Southern University.

He leaves to cherish his sweet memories, his wife of 28 years, Martha Bellow Smith; godchild, Gabrielle Payne; three sisters, Christine Smith of Alexandria, LA, Diane Smith, and Brenda Smith of Jena, LA; three brothers, Albert Charles (Diane) Smith, Jr. of LaPorte, TX, Danny Smith of Houston, TX, and Donald Ray Smith of Jena, LA; six sisters in law, Catherine Bellow of Austin, TX, Theresa Belleau (Mike Bush) of Milton, FL, Genevieve Bellow (Cornelius Garner) of Powder Springs, GA, Ann (Earlis) Jacobs, Lucy Mae Gallow, and Louella Chretien of Lake Charles, LA; and three brothers in law, Lawrence (Fannie) Bellow of Lacassine, LA, Aaron (Theresa) Bellow, Sr. and Paul (Kathleen) Bellow both of Lake Charles, LA and a host of cherished nephews, nieces, cousins, classmates, colleagues, and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Josephine Smith, Sr. and one brother, Jerry Johnson.

SERVICE INFORMATION

Service date: March 7, 2015

Visitation will be from 8am to noon on Saturday, March 7 at Greater Live Oak Baptist Church, 721 Twelfth Street in Lake Charles with funeral services to follow. Pastor James Walker will officiate. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery under the direction of Combre Funeral Home.