On Sunday, July 27, 2014, our Lord and Savior took Bennett Renaldo Smith from our Christian fellowship into His loving arms.

Bennett was born in Gaffney, South Carolina on March 10, 1956 and was a son of Edith Smith Knuckles, Deacon Joe Dean Knuckles, and the late Homer Oglesby.

He received his formal education in the public schools of Cherokee County, SC. After graduating from Gaffney High School in 1974, he studied at Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, NC. Bennett received a B.S. Degree from Limestone College, Gaffney, SC and was presently studying at Converse College, Spartanburg, SC.

On November 24, 1985, he was united in Holy Matrimony with Linda Lipscomb. They were blessed with a daughter, Erika, and a grandson, Jayden.

He was a member of White Plains Baptist Church where he served as van driver and former Chairman of the Trustee Board.

Bennett was founder, owner and operator of BEL Bonding Company. He was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and a former mason.

He was also preceded in death by his grandparents, Deacon and Mrs. Walker Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Knuckles, Mr. and Mrs. Talmadge Oglesby, Sr.; father and mother-in-law, Deacon and Mrs. I.M. Lipscomb.
He leaves to cherish loving memories: his loving wife of 28 years, Mrs. Linda Smith; one daughter, Ms. Erika Smith; grandson, Jayden Craig; mother, Mrs. Edith Knuckles; brothers, Derrick Knuckles (Kim) and Rev. Roderick Oglesby (Lori); a sister, Mrs. Gwendolette Dawkins (Elywin); a cousin/sister, Mrs. Shelia Murphy; sisters-in-law, Jennette Lipscomb and Joyce Whitaker; brothers in law, Homer Lipscomb (Ann) and Clyde Lipscomb (Annie); aunts, Mrs. Pernice Smith, Mrs. Bernice Dawkins (Rev. L.D.), Mrs. Sarah Redish (Elijah), Mrs. Toledo Littejohn, Mrs. Clynthree Oglesby, Mrs. Vera Williams and Mrs. Lee Webster; uncles, Dennis Oglesby (Sarah) and Charles Knuckles (Cordelia); great-uncle, William Jefferies (Lizzie); great aunts, Mrs. Eunice Foster and Mrs. Catherine Dixon; several cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.