On July 17, 1930, in Washington, D.C., the late Antha Pryor Ezell gave birth to Sylvester Smith. It was the beginning of eighty-one years of life until the early morning of September 6, 2011, when Sylvester was quietly called home.

"Ves," as he was affectionately known to family and friends, was educated in the public schools of Charles County, Maryland until his attendance at Randall High School, in Washington, D.C.

Ves was employed by the Naval Ordnance Station in Indian Head, Maryland where he was a devoted employee and retired after more than 30 years of service working hard as a Rigger.

Married for sixty years to the love of his life, Pearl Smith, together they had eight children, three of them preceding him in death.

Ves was a man who enjoyed the simple pleasures of life, such as time with his family, cooking for his family, fishing on his boat (when he had one) and then frying fish, not only for his family but for the beloved members of the Smith United Methodist Church, where he served as a Trustee and was a devoted member until his health began to decline.

In addition to his mother, Antha and step-father, Allen Ezell, he is also preceded in death by his sons, Roger and Michael and daughter, Brenda Smith and brothers, Dennis, Bernard, Calvin and Raymond Ezell.

Left to cherish many memories are his wife, Pearl, sons; Stanley (Connie), Kevin (Freda), Sylvester, Jr. (Felicia), and Carl (Angie), daughter, Karen, eight grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, sisters, Marlene Buxton and Ann Bethay, brothers, Allen Ezell, Jr., Eddie Ezell (Barbara), Clarence (Alberta) Ezell, Warren Ezell, and James (Carla) Ezell, brothers-in-law, Nathaniel (Annie) Warren, James (Vyria) Cobey, Donald Gutrick, sisters-in-law, Geraldine Ward, Betty Ross, Shirley Lewis and Alberta Branson, good friend, Charles Bowman, and a host of other relatives and friends.

His viewing will take place on Saturday, September 10th, 10:00am until time of Services 11:00am in the CHAPEL at Thornton Funeral Home, P.A., 3439 Livingston Road, Indian Head, MD. Interment Smith Chapel United Methodist Church, Pisgah, MD.

Arrangements provided by Thornton Funeral Home, P.A.