Frank Smith passes away

OK, I was born on January 8 in Tupelo, Elvis was born January 8 in Tupelo. I play the guitar, he played the guitar. That is about as far as the similarities go, however I did have the opportunity to meet the man who taught him to play the guitar many years ago. Unfortunately he has passed away. Here is his obit, notice where he pastored.
Rev. Frank W. Smith
TUPELO – Frank Wilton Smith, 80, died Sunday, November 25, 2007 at Magnolia Manor-Tupelo.

He was born on February 5, 1927 in Meridian, Mississippi to the late Charlie Edward Smith and Hannah Elizabeth (Hitt) Smith. He was saved and born again on July 4, 1941.

On April 19, 1944 he married the late Reba Corene (Randall) Smith of East Tupelo and they were married for 61 years until her death in 2004. He felt the call of God upon his life to serve in the ministry as a young teen, and pastored his first church in 1947 at the East Tupelo Assembly of God Church, and went on to pastor fourteen churches with the Church of God of Prophecy until his retirement in the early 1990’s, after pastoring for 48 years. Although he retired from the leadership as a pastor, he never retired from ministering to others and continued to bless everyone he came in contact with.

During his life, he could always be found singing around the area at many gospel singings or revivals, or on local radio shows on the weekends singing with friends, as he was well known for his singing and playing the guitar.

He has received much recognition as he is known as “the man that taught Elvis Presley how to play the guitar”, as he was the pastor of East Tupelo Assembly of God church where the family of Vernon and Gladys Presley were members. He also taught Elvis the song “Old Shep” which he went on to record, and he is recognized in many books, documentaries, films and monuments for his relations with Elvis.

Although he remained a licensed minister with the Church of God of Prophecy until his death, he enjoyed attending church at West Jackson Street Baptist Church the last few years of his life.

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