Hiawathia Ted Smith, Jr.

Hiawatha Ted Smith, Jr. was born on September 6, 1953 in Marion, South Carolina to Hiawatha Smith, Sr. and Ella Mae Marcus Smith. He was the eldest of 9 children. He was affectionately known as Ted or Teddy throughout his life by all that knew and loved him. In his early years, Ted and his family relocated to Jersey City, NJ. From a young age, Teddy was a natural athlete. He played little league sports year-round, focusing on basketball, baseball and football. It was during these early years that his talent was recognized multiple times in the local newspaper. He attended Ferris High School in Jersey City, where he excelled academically and athletically. His senior year, he served as Class President. His most memorable part of his high school years was meeting his true love Marybeth Velez. They met during their senior year, when he was on the football team and she was in the marching band. They were inseparable ever since. In his senior year of high school, Ted was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates and had an important decision to make: becoming a major league baseball player or becoming the first in his family to go to college. He chose the latter. In 1973 Ted earned academic and athletic scholarships to Rutgers University. He continued his football career and married his high school sweetheart Marybeth while in college. In 1977 he graduated with a BA in History. Ted was truly a family man. From his union with Marybeth they had 4 children: Nakomis Mary, Hiawatha Kareem, Tykia Beth, and Kayla-Zo. Ted and Marybeth made a home for their children in Plainfield NJ. He prided himself in sharing life lessons with his family. He had a way of imparting wisdom through many of his shared stories to his children. Ted believed in supporting his family's goals and dreams. Whether it was being a model in his wife’s hair shows posing as Phillip Michael Thomas, volunteering and attending his children’s little league games, or supporting each of his children’s decisions and career paths (even if it meant moving across country)....Teddy was everyone’s advocate. Ted had a brief career in education as a high school history teacher. He then began a long and successful career with the Equitable Insurance Company as an insurance salesman. After retiring from the insurance industry, he returned to his passion for teaching, and was employed with Virginia Beach Public School System, where he mostly worked at Renaissance High School Academy. There he made an impact on both his students and colleagues. He believed in continuing to educate oneself and higher education. As a result of his passion for education the “Hiawatha Ted Smith, Jr. Scholarship Fund” has been established in his honor. Ted had many interests and hobbies, including watching and playing football, basketball and baseball. His favorite teams were the Jets and the Mets. He loved cooking and baking (he was famous for his German chocolate cake), listening to the news, reading books, playing golf, traveling with his family, and spending quality time with his wife. His most memorable pastime was working out on his Nordic track and singing along to the songs he worked out to. This included multiple genres of music, including songs from Bob Marley, Otis Redding, James Brown, The Temptations, Aretha Franklin and his favorite, Sylvester. Additionally, he loved to listen to salsa and merengue. Ted was preceded in death by his mother, the late Mrs. Ella Mae Marcus Smith, and brothers the late George and Ricky Smith. He is survived by his large loving family: wife Marybeth Velez Smith, daughters Nakomis, Tykia and Kayla, son Kareem, father Hiawatha Smith, Sr., siblings Terry Smith (Wanda), Jerry Smith, Audrey Smith, Anthony Smith, Eric Smith (Melanie), Derek Smith, 14 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and other family members and friends.

Hiawathia Ted Smith, Jr.

September 6, 1953 - January 21, 2024