[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1475]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN REMEMBRANCE OF REV. DR. C. B. T. SMITH

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 17, 2009

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in 
honor of Rev. Dr. C. B. T. Smith who passed away on Saturday, June 13, 
2009. Rev. Smith served the congregation of Golden Gate Missionary 
Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, for over 45 years and was regarded 
nationally as a leading theologian and skilled minister.
  Rev. Smith was born as one of 14 children to a sharecropper and a 
maid, and at the age of 20, he felt a profound call of service to God. 
In 1952, he became a pastor at Golden Gate Missionary Baptist Church 
and began what would become a career spanning almost five decades. Rev. 
Smith married Rosie Lee Hartfield, on January 2, 1943, and they 
remained together for over fifty years until her passing on April 15, 
2008. He is survived by several god children and three sisters-in-law.
  As a pastor, Rev. Smith was a powerhouse in the Dallas area. One of 
the central points of his ministry was to ensure that the church 
adapted to the changing social needs of the community. When Rev. Smith 
saw that many African American men were suffering from alcohol and drug 
addiction, he developed a program to focus on counseling and 
rehabilitation. Through his career, Golden Gate Missionary Baptist 
Church saw the creation of many ministries and fellowship programs 
including a Children's Ministry, a Marriage and Counseling Program, and 
a Senior's Fellowship Program, among others.
  Today, Golden Gate Missionary Baptist Church is one of the most 
vibrant congregations in Dallas with thanks in large part to the 
lifelong work of Rev. Dr. C. B. T. Smith. I ask my fellow colleagues to 
join me in remembering and honoring the work and life of this great man 
who made a difference in the lives of so many individuals. He will be 
deeply missed.

                          ____________________