Dr. W. A. "Billy" Smith

Dr. W. A. “Billy” Smith is a native of New Albany, Mississippi. Affectionately known to many as Brother Billy, he was born again at the age of eleven after his family relocated to Blue Mountain in northern Mississippi. He surrendered to the gospel ministry at the age of fifteen after hearing messages at a revival held at Lowrey Memorial Baptist Church from Dr. R. G. Lee, as well as his own pastor, Rev. James H. Fairchild, who preached a message entitled “Souls Are Lost: Who Cares?” Dr. Smith was ordained to the gospel ministry at First Baptist Church of Louisville, Mississippi. His first pastorate was at Indian Springs Baptist Church near Louisville, in central Mississippi. While attending Mississippi College, Smith pastored the Alta Vista Baptist Church near Jackson. Over 100 new members came into the church during Smith’s tenure, which ended in 1960 when he resigned to pursue studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

While working toward his Bachelor of Divinity degree, Smith pastored the Bluff Springs Baptist Church in Magnolia, near the Louisiana border. After graduation, he stayed in Mississippi, leading the congregations at Mt. Zion Baptist in Independence and Second Baptist in Indianola. In 1969, Smith was called to the Trinity Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. The church experienced tremendous growth during his first three years. 

In 1975, Smith became pastor of the West Rome Baptist Church in Rome, Georgia, where he served four years. In 1979, he earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Luther Rice Seminary.

Smith then answered the call to Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia, his longest pastorate. Smith led Sherwood for nine years, leading the congregation into a new sanctuary, family life center and Christian school. While at Sherwood, Smith served in several key positions for both the Georgia Baptist and Southern Baptist Conventions.

In 1988, Brother Billy left Georgia to accept the call at the Ridgeway Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee, where he served before entering into full-time evangelism in 1994. Prior to his retirement, he served as a short-term pastor at First Baptist Church, Durant, and Eastwood Baptist Church, both in Mississippi.

Dr. Smith and his wife Harriette live in Madison, Mississippi and have two children, Michael and Sandy, and five grandchildren.