Aurora congregation holds Celebration of Life

More than 3,000 people have banded together to cope with their enormous loss. (Photo by Fiona Murray from Unsplash)

On Nov. 5, a Celebration of Life was held by the Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church.

The gathering was in honor of Rev. Dr. Jules Earl Smith, the congregation's pastor since 1986 and a civil rights activist.

More than 3,000 people have banded together to cope with their enormous loss.

According to a report by Fox 31, many paid tributes to the life and legacy of Smith.

Family, friends, elected officials, and parishioners presided over the pulpit to commemorate him.

As reported, Smith's granddaughter recalled how she would sit on his lap, and they would write their sermons.

They would also play restaurant with her toy kitchen or when he would jokingly charge her $50 to manicure her nails.

But rather than just a loss for the family and the congregation, Smith's passing is a monumental loss that reaches far beyond.

Video of the funeral reportedly showed mourners from across the world conveying condolences to whom many saw as a civil rights activist.

After fighting it for over a year, Smith lost his battle with two-type cancer late last month.

"I've certainly been knocked down, but I haven't been knocked out," he alluded in his final sermon.

Early Life

Based on another report, Smith was welcomed into the world prematurely on Apr. 9, 1947.

He was born to the late Pastor John Smith and Sarah Cotton Kennedy Smith and was the third of six kids.

A traveling physician gave him his name because he compared the preterm child to a priceless gem.

Smith got a summons on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, at 7:27 a.m.

Smith reportedly received his education at John S. Dawson High School in St. Francisville, Louisiana.

As described, Smith was a kind educator who supported experiential learning. He even instructed his father in Bible reading.

Life of Christian Leadership

According to the report, Smith was always getting ready for Christian leadership.

His parents had instilled in him the necessary leadership and clergy abilities, which he developed when he started his Christian journey.

He went with them to many churches and quickly developed a passion for music and running a church.

Then, at Jackson, Louisiana's Rasberry Baptist Church II, the Rev. D.H. Grimes performed his baptism on Aug. 25, 1957.

Smith then went on to perform at many churches in the neighborhood as the Northern District's parish pianist.

And in the Baton Rouge, East, and West Feliciana parishes and the surrounding areas, Jules was a prominent activist and civil rights leader.

Smith also served as a Sunday School teacher, church clerk, choir director, pianist, deacon, and ultimately the chair of deacons as he matured spiritually.

In June 1976, he accepted the call to the ministry and delivered his inaugural sermon, "Investments above Dividends."

As he developed in his calling, he was appointed assistant pastor. In November 1981, he was ordained.

Before being promoted and relocated to Denver, Colorado, in 1982, he served Unity for eleven years.

He was appointed to lead Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church on Sept. 6, 1986.

After 36 years under his direction, the organization has more than 3,000 members, and the site is home to assets worth more than $13 million.

Smith was renowned for his soul-searching sermons and knowledgeable Bible studies.

He was known as "A Preacher's Pastor" and was an animated preacher.

Over the years, he mentored, counseled, and ordained 65 sons and daughters into the ministry. Many people reportedly looked up to him as a spiritual father.