William “Willie” Smith, 79, of Whitman, Massachusetts, passed away on July 5, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on May 15, 1947, in Crystal Springs, Mississippi, to the late Isaac Smith and Christine Williams Thigpen.

At the age of 28, Willie moved from Crystal Springs, Mississippi, to Boston, Massachusetts, where he lived at 66 Crawford Street in the Dorchester neighborhood.

Willie met Lowanda Lawson in 1977, and together they began building a life and family. They welcomed their first child in March 1978 and were married on April 17, 1981. Together they shared 49 years by each other’s side, including 45 years of marriage, raising five children and building a life centered on hard work, commitment, and family. Willie worked hard to provide for his family, while Lowanda cared for their home and raised their children.

In the 1980s, Willie and Lowanda moved to Weymouth, where they began raising their family. In 1990, they moved to Whitman, Massachusetts, where they continued raising their children and built a life together.

Willie dedicated 36 years of service to Cole Hersee, where he worked his way up to become a respected supervisor. He retired at the age of 57 after a career marked by hard work, leadership, and dedication.

Willie was a humble and hardworking man who took pride in everything he did. He found joy in life’s simple pleasures and in the life he built for his family. He believed that hard work, integrity, and personal responsibility were the foundation of a good life.

He always encouraged his children to do well in school, work hard, and make good choices. He wanted each of them to become independent and build successful lives of their own. The advice and guidance he shared throughout their lives came from a place of love and a genuine desire to see them succeed. His guidance didn’t end with childhood. Even as adults, his children continued to turn to him for advice and encouragement, and they will deeply miss the conversations and the time they shared with him.

Willie enjoyed talking with people and easily made friends wherever he went. Whether at work, at the gym, or simply chatting with someone who stopped to admire his garden, he had a way of making people feel welcome.

Throughout his life, Willie found peace working in his yard and tending to his garden. After retiring, he especially enjoyed staying active at the gym, relaxing in his favorite chair while watching basketball and football, keeping up with politics and current events, listening to R&B music, and watching the occasional animal documentary. He took great pride in caring for his luxury cars, keeping them spotless, and always liked to look his best.

Family was at the center of Willie’s life. Holidays were always a special time, and even after the children were grown, Sunday dinners prepared by Lowanda continued to bring the family together around the table. Those gatherings became a treasured family tradition, creating memories their family will cherish forever. In his later years, Willie especially treasured the time he spent with his children and grandchildren. Their love, laughter, and presence brought him great happiness and strength.

Willie is survived by his beloved wife, Lowanda Smith; his five children, Nicholas Smith, Nichole Smith, William “Will” Smith Jr., Shelly Smith, and Candy Ahern (née Smith); his son-in-law, Patrick Ahern; his daughter-in-law, Toni Jordan; his cherished grandchildren, Ari, Janessa, Julian, and Isaac; his brother, Robert Smith, and sister-in-law, Ann Smith, of Pensacola, Florida, and their sons, Ryan Smith and Robert Smith Jr.; his brothers, Jimmy Smith and Lawrence Smith, both of Crystal Springs, Mississippi; his brother-in-law, James Harold Boston of Crystal Springs, Mississippi; his niece, Latoya Boston Johnson and her husband, Sam Paul Johnson, of Crystal Springs, Mississippi, and their three daughters; and his nephew, Harold Boston of Crystal Springs, Mississippi.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Isaac Smith and Christine Williams Thigpen; his sister, Irish Smith Boston; and his mother-in-law, Velma Lawson.

Our husband, dad, and grandfather will forever be in our hearts. We will miss his guidance, our conversations, and the steady presence he brought to our lives. His love, his wisdom, and the lessons he taught us will remain with us always.

Gone But Never Forgotten.Love You Always.Your Loving Wife

Family and friends are invited to attend a mermorial service at the Blanchard Funeral Chapel on Saturday, September 12th at 10 A.M.