Frankie Lee Smith, the son of Myrtle Smith-Ellis and the late Roddy Ellis, Jr. is married to the former Wilma Hopper and to that union we were blessed with two wonderful children: Kendra and Frankie II (Lee). We are the proud grandparents of three grandsons: Tylee and Kendall Smith, and Da Sir Lyles our youngest grand.

I accepted the call to Christian Ministry to preach November 26, 1976, and preached my Trial Sermon on December 26, 1976, at the Fairview A. M. E. Zion Church, Earl, NC.   Licensed as a Local Preacher August 12, 1977.  I was ordained a Deacon in the A. M. E. Zion Church, October 16, 1981, and ordained an Elder April 5, 1983, at the South Carolina Annual Conference.  I presently serve as Pastor of the Mt. Zion A. M. E. Zion Church, Hickory Grove, South Carolina.  My former pastoral assignments were the following: Loves Chapel, Browns Chapel, Gold Hill and O’Zion A.M.E. Zion Church.

Educated through Shelby City School System; this includes being a 1974 graduate of the Shelby Senior High School. Continued to pursue higher learning and matriculated through Gardner-Webb College, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1979. In May of 2008 I completed a Master of Divinity Degree at the Christopher White Divinity School of Gardner-Webb University.

 I love the Lord and I am obligated to winning the lost, equipping and empowering the body of Christ for Christian Ministry. I served as the Director of Evangelism for the South Carolina Conference of the A.M.E. Zion Church. Serve on the South Carolina Conference Examiner’s Committee, Holy Orders Committee, and as treasurer for the York-Chester District. I serve on the Board of Church Growth & Development for the A. M. E. Zion Church.  My paramount scripture passage is Psalm 34:8 “O taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.”