Funeral services for Dr. Smith is set for September 8, 2023 at the church 2000, Phillip Street, beginning with the viewing at 9:00 a.m. to 9:55 a.m. and concluding with the service at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be in the Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive Houston, Texas 77038.
Seab was born on April 7th 1937 in Provencal, Louisiana, located in Natchitoches parish and was the eldest of 12 children born to Dread and Maude Smith.
He was cherished by all of his family, including his siblings, Annie Bell, Douglas MacArthur, Gussie Mae, Robert James, Billy Ray, Vernail, Elaine, Geneva Faye, Melvin Lewis, Barbarette Marie, and Abigail Berneice. Seab was married to Mildred Oneida Williams in 1962 and for 26 years, together they raised three sons, Cedric, Wendell and Christopher.
They endeavored to instill in them proper values, virtues and a love for Christ that would serve them well as they grew. Additionally, Seab is survived by five grandchildren, Christopher, Monica, Daniel, Gabriel and Kelani, daughters-“in-law”, Melanie and Kelly, dear friend Carla Whittaker, and a host of others who remember him as a father or grandfather figure, mentor and/or friend.
Seab was the first of his family to go to college or graduate from high school, and he made the most of that opportunity. He was a proud graduate of Southern University in Baton Rouge, where he received his B.S. in Horticultural Science. He also held a M.S. Degree in Biology Education from Northwestern State University and a Doctor of Education in Science Education from the University of Houston. He used this education to spend a lifetime serving his community. He was a professor of Biology at Prairie View A&M University for more than 4 decades.
He also was an active leader and member of his Church community at Saint Francis of Assisi Episcopal church for more than 50 years, served as a Scout Master for the Boy Scouts of America for more than 30 years and happily worked at Prairie A&M University for 43 years where he taught and mentored countless biology students, and aspiring doctors, nurses and dentists.
Dr. Smith’s list of accolades received for community involvement would be too long to fully include here but to highlight just a few, please consider the following. He was Speaker of the Faculty Senate for Prairie View A&M University, recipient of the St. George Episcopal Award for recognition of service to his church community, integrally involved in the establishment and operation of Boy Scout Troops 141 and 1906, receiving numerous local and regional awards including the Silver Beaver Award, the highest award of recognition that can be bestowed upon a volunteer leader. It recognizes exceptional character for those who have provided distinguished service. He was Scout Master to more than a dozen minority Eagle Scouts, where only 4 percent of all scouts achieve the honor. He volunteered as an Emergency Service Provider and served on the ZIP CODE Committee for the City of Prairie View, and coached numerous little league baseball and basketball teams.
Of all of these endeavors, the role he cherished most was that of a devoted and ever-present father and grandfather. Regardless of how busy he may have been, he rarely missed a game, practice or award ceremony for his sons and continued this dedication with his grandchildren. He was and is loved dearly and he will truly be missed.
