Joshua Keshun Smith

Joshua Keshun Smith arrived in this world to his parents TheResa Laverne Butler and Steven Eugene Smith on Saturday, January 22, 1999 at 4:27 p.m. weighing 7 lbs. 14.5 ounces and 20 inch long. He was loved at the moment his mom found out she was pregnant. 

Joshua was full of energy and was curious as a little boy. Joshua always wanted to know how things worked. He loved to collect rocks shaped like hearts and to take pictures of the clouds and take them to his mother (which she still has) and he loved his cowboy boots! Joshua loved to have fun and be around friends and family.... His mother often told him once he finished school and got married, she wanted five grandbabies, he jokingly told her you must have a son somewhere else.            

Joshua was raised in the church; he was taught about Jesus Christ and the love Christ had for him and he accepted Christ as his own. Joshua confessed with his own mouth and he believed in his heart that Jesus was his savior. Joshua was baptized as a baby at Harmony Missionary Baptist Church. Joshua belonged to Mount Olive AME Church in Dalark Arkansas where his mom is the pastor. 

Joshua was a full-time student at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia Arkansas where he was pursuing a degree in Physics Engineering with only 9 credits left to walk across the stage, he often said he was doing it for his mommy to make his mommy proud. Joshua had big hopes and big dreams. He was a deep, deep thinker and did not allow his surroundings or circumstances to stop his dreams.          

Joshua is loved by so, so many, but his number one fan was his mama he was truly a mama's baby!  As the many men in his family, Joshua planned to pledge Kappa Alpha Psi his senior year.       

Joshua was preceded in death by his maternal great grandparents, Deacon Espen Butler and Deaconess Francis Butler; his fraternal grandfather, Michael Thrasher and fraternal uncle, Kevin Bishop and his aunt, Yolanda Bishop.           

Those left to cherish his memories is his mother, Pastor TheResa Ngantchie of Arkadelphia, AR; his father, Steven Eugene Smith of Malvern, AR; his maternal grandmother, Carolyn Butler of Milwaukee, WI; his maternal grandfather, Laverne Terry Bohannon of Milwaukee, WI. He also leaves Earlene King of Sparkman, AR; his paternal grandparents, Troy and Virginia Hughes of Malvern, AR; his godparents, Sherman and Pastor Linda Butler;  his sister, Tierrah DeAnn Smith; brothers, Teven DeAndre Smith and Tre'Jan DeVon Smith; god sisters, Sabrina Rictoria Davis and Paris Quarles; a god brother, Malachi Butler; nephews, Ienan Smith and Hayden Cheatham; his niece, Reagan Cheatham; his maternal aunts, Monica D. Butler and LaCole D. Butler; his maternal uncles and aunts, Herman and Ermaline Butler of Sparkman, AR, Sherman and Reverend Linda Butler of  Sparkman, AR, Theotist Harris and Helen Harris of Little Rock, AR, Marvin and Beatrice Evans of Kansas City, MO, Peggy Kirkwood of Buffalo, NY, Gloria and Gale Jones of Arkadelphia, AR, Bobby King of Kansas City, MO,  Cynthia Harris of Kansas City, MO, Chris King of Sparkman, AR, LaHomia King of Arkadelphia, AR; paternal uncles, Michael Bishop, Otis Smith, Alex Hughes, all of Malvern, AR; his cousins who were more like big brothers to him, 
Devin Butler, Dakota Nobles, Jermane Butler, Adrian Harris, Larry Jermain Bedford Jr. Elijah Marie, Lovontte Butler , Tony Butler, Antonio Butler. His cousins ShaVontte Hardnett, Lacreeshia Butler, and Veronica Butler, Lauren Butler, Katisha King and his best friend, Peyton Jones; special friends, Genus Smith, Darius Pigg and Alexis Pigg and his dog Cali. Joshua has a host of friends that love him dearly and will truly miss him, as well as, the Mt. Olive A.M.E Church family.            

Public visitation will be Friday, August 21, 2020 from 3:00 pm until 6:00 p.m. at Williams Funeral Home. His life’s celebration will be shared at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2020 at the Arkadelphia Rec Center-Feaster Park - 2555 Twin Rivers Drive, Arkadelphia. Interment will be at Harmony Community Cemetery in Sparkman, Arkansas. 

Peyton Jones, Jermane Butler, Da”Kota Nobles, Tony Butler, Adrian Harris and Johnathan Davis will serve as pallbearers. Teven D. Smith, Tre’Jan S. Smith, Larry J. Benford, Jr., Elijah Marie, Lovevontte Butler, Malachi Butler, Devin Butler, Baby Larry Benford, III., Aiden J. Butler, Hyden Cheatham, Sa’Marii Hardnett, London McGhee, Kayden Lewis and Antonino Butler are honorable mention.