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Bennie Smith was born on July 18, 1948, on a rural farm in Faceville, Georgia, son of Earlie and Lera Smith, and the youngest of six children. He attended a four-room schoolhouse until the eighth grade and a high school with sub-standard facilities. To assist in supporting his family, he worked a full-time job his junior and senior years of high school. He was the driver for the local African American funeral home. Early in life, he knew he wanted to own a business, but it wasn't until he worked for the funeral home that he decided that he would one day own and operate a funeral home business.

Knowing that his parents could not afford his tuition to college, he joined the Armed Forces, and, after being Honorably Discharged, he matriculated at the John A. Gupton School of Mortuary Science in Nashville, Tennessee in 1969. He was a full-time student and worked full-time as well until his graduation in 1971. After graduating, he enrolled at the University of Minnesota and a year later he received his Bachelor of Science degree, which is the highest degree offered in this profession. Again, he was a full-time student working a full-time job. Earning this Bachelor of Science degree enabled him to be licensed to operate in any state without restrictions.

His first full-time postion as a Mortician was for one year at Hawkins Funeral Home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1972 to 1973. In 1973, he moved to Dover, Delaware and worked for the Reese Funeral Home. While working for Reese Funeral Home, he enrolled at the University of Delaware and earned a Master's Degree in Counseling in 1978. It was in the late seventies that he decided that it was time for him to step up and seek his teenage dream of owning his own funeral home.

In 1982, he became Chairman and CEO of the Bennie Smith Funeral Homes, establishing direct start-up of 14 funeral homes in the tri-states of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. In the state of Delaware: the cities of Dover, Seaford, Milford, and Millsboro. In the state of Maryland: the cities of Princess Anne, Pocomoke, Salisbury, Hurlock, Cambridge, Easton, Chestertown, and Baltimore. And in the state of Virginia: the cities of New Church and Exmore. This grand accomplishment was the first of any African American Funeral Director in the United States. To date, 12 of those establishments are still in operation, with the main headquarters in Dover, Delaware. Currently, he is the owner of one of the largest African American owned operated funeral homes in the United States. He is licensed to practice funeral services in the states of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New York. He has over 75 employees and contractors.

That same year of 1982, Mr. Smith became the first contractor to secure a contract with Dover Air Force Base, who had not owned a funeral home and without a strong financial base. With God's help and his strong desire to succeed, he held this contractural agreement for 14 years after which the military took over the operation. As the sole contractor, he was responsible for embalming, restorative art, dressing of remains and shipment of active duty members and their families from all branches of the military service to Europe, Southwest Asia, the Azures, Iceland, and Greenland. During his contractural years he processed over 3,000 remains. Some of the national and international news making events included in 1982, the Navy C-130 crash of 11 remains. In 1983, the bombing in Beruit, Lebanon 237 remains and in Grenada 14 remains. In 1984, Beirut singles 9 remains and Spain Air C-130 crash 9 remains. In 1985, Newfoundland and Gander plane crash 248 remains. In 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger 7 remains. In 1987, USS Stark 33 remains. In 1988, PanAm 103, 25 remains. In 1990, USS Iwo Jima 10 remains and USS Saratoga 20 remains. In 1991, Desert Sheild/Storm 310 remains. In 1992, C-130 Mishap, Kenya 7 remains and C-130 Montana Air Crash 5 remains. In 1993, Somalia 23 remains. In 1994, Iraq helicopter incident 15 remains. In 1995, Saudi Arabia bombing 5 remains and in 1996, Commerce Secretary Ronald H. Brown and his plane crew.

He has invested his time and energy in other businesses as well. He was the owner of the largest African American-owned fleet of school buses on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Delaware, operating 35 buses for the Capitol and Smyrna School Districts. He is the past owner of the Ebony Restaurant and Lounge in Dover, Delaware. He is a Real Estate investor with extensive property holdings. He offers limousine services to the public and owns three florists.

For his outstanding service to the citizens of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, he has been the receipient of numerous awards and citations. Just to name a few, Outstanding Achievement of Business Enterprise by the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Honor for Outstanding Service and Contribution to the African Methodist Episcopal Churches, Recognized by the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus for Outstanding Service to Maryland communities, Bigger & Best Business Award from the Delta Gamma Sigma chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Exemplary Business Man award from the Beta Epsilon chapter of Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc., Small Business Person of the Year nominee by the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce, Governor's Citation for Outstanding Service to the State of Maryland, recognized by Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. for Outstanding Achievement in the First State, and Delaware Minority Business Person of the Year.

In 2003, he established a scholarship program for high school seniors from the states of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia who are planning to further their education at schools of higher learning.

From humble beginnings, Bennie Smith, from a rural farm in Faceville, Georgia, has evolved into a successful and caring businessman setting the standards for funeral homes across this country.

Bennie Smith,
Founder, Owner
Mr. Smith and his wife, Shirley, reside in Dover, Delaware. They are the parents of two daughters and two grandchildren.

John H. Prince,
Chief Mortician
Mr. Prince has an Associate of Arts degree in Mortuary Science and Nutritional Science. He is a member of the Dover branch. Mr. Prince and his wife, Lucille, are the proud parents of two children, John, Jr. and Lenore, and four grandchildren.

Reverend Willie L. Savage,
Preneed Director, Family Service Consultant
Rev. Savage has a business degree, a Masters degree of Divinity and a Doctorate of Theology. He acts as a licensed insurance agent primarily in the Dover branch. Rev. Savage and his wife, Phyllis, are the proud parents of two children, Willie, II and Tanya, and three grandchildren. He is also the Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Cheswold in Dover, Delaware.

William J. Ward, Jr.,
Director of Personnel
Mr. Ward received his Bachelor's degree from Bible College. He is a member of the Dover branch. Mr. Ward is married with four children.

Francis W. Gates,
Mr. Gates has been an employee of the firm since 1987. He is a native of Easton, Maryland and a graduate of Moton High School in Easton. He received a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Bowie State Universtiy, a Master Degree in Educational Administration from Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland and honorary Doctorate degrees from Morgan State University and the National Theological Seminary and College. He was employed in the Maryland public school system for 31 years as an elementary teacher, elementary principal, high school teacher, high school principal, supervisor of instruction and in staff positions at the Maryland State Department of Education. Following his retirement in 1980, he was coordinator and adjunct instructor for the Eastern Shore Branch of Sojourner-Dougass College for seven years and is Chairman Emeritus of the Morgan State University Board of Regents. He is a member of Phi Beta Sigma, Sigma Pi Phi, Phi Delta Kappa, life member of the NAACP and the American Legion. A 32nd degree Mason, he is a former member of Eastern Star Lodge #16 and Western Maryland Consistory 270. A member of Bethel A.M.E. Church in Easton, he served on the Stewards Board and is retired director of the Senior Choir and Gospel Chorus. He and his wife, Ada Baker Gates, are the parents of a daughter, Pamela, and have a grandson, Michael Collier.

Russell Fooks,
Mortician
Mr. Fooks attended the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and graduated from the Kentucky School of Mortuary Science in Louisville, Kentucky. He is a member of the Salisbury branch. Mr. Fooks and his wife, Katie, have two daughters, Yolanda and Orlanda, two sons, Russell, Jr. and Markus, and seven grandchildren.

Tammie Y. Smith-Shaw,
Mortician
Ms. Smith-Shaw holds an Associate Degree in Mortuary Science. She is the mother of two sons, Timothy, Jr. and Trevon.

Reverend Michael T. Scott,
Pastor
Rev. Scott received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia, and he is also a licensed mortician. He and his wife, Tamara, have two daughters, Trinity and Morgan.

Reverend Clarence Hawkins,
Funeral Follow-Up Coordinator
Rev. Hawkins currently holds a Master's degree. He is married with three children.

Leotha Hull,
Funeral Follow-Up Coordinator
Mr. Hull currently holds a Master's degree. He is married with one child.

Reverend Joseph Henry,
Funeral Follow-Up Coordinator
Rev. Henry currently holds a Master's degree. He is married with six children.

Reverend George Edwards,
Funeral Follow-Up Coordinator
Rev. Edwards assists with the funeral aftercare with the families that Bennie Smith Funeral Home serves. He is married with three children.

Cheryle Thompson,
Office Manager
Ms. Thompson is a graduate of Delaware State University with a Bachelor's of Science in Marketing degree. She is the mother of one daughter, Tiaja.