America’s Oldest Minister Goes Home to Glory—No, It’s Not Billy Graham
Rev. Noah Smith spent more time in the pulpit than some of us do in church.
A practicing minister for 58 years, Smith, the oldest-practicing minister in the United States, died last month at age 107.
“He has left a legacy that is really indescribable,” Wayman AME Church Pastor Rev. Alphonse Reff Sr. says.
At the time of his death, Smith was the clergy leadership adviser for the church.
Smith was ordained as in 1960 and served at St. Mark AME Church in Duluth, according to an NBC affiliate. He also served at St. James AME in Minneapolis until he retired in 1998.
Smith earned his M.Div. from United Theological Seminary at the ripe age of 81.
“He never seemed like he was 107,” Charles Hallman, a steward board member of Wayman says. “He was always bright and energetic. Always had a word of wisdom to speak. Every time that I saw him I made sure that I shook his hand basically because I never knew anybody who lived past 90, so I wanted to make sure that I at least touched his hand and talked to him.”
Our prayers are with his family and church as they deal with this loss.
