CityView Magazine

CityViewNC .com | 9 He died at age 85 on Sept. 27 at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem. "e strength within Ritchie carried him right to the end of his earthly journey, where he lived out his final days the same way he lived his entire life – faithfully and fully," Blackman said. "God provided the blessing of being placed in a room with windows so that he could be with his family, so that he could see them and so that he could share his goodbyes with them." He didn't dwell on the perils of the coronavirus. Instead, he counted his blessings. Ritchie Smith would assure the preacher that all was well with his soul, and no, there were "no regrets" along his life's way. "Not a one," Ritchie Smith would say. "I have lived a blessed and good life, surrounded by loving family and friends. How can there be any regrets?" Smith would spend his last day reminding his family of the pride he took in all of them. "He was everybody's biggest cheerleader," says Allen Smith, who followed his father into the law practice. "His last words to every child was how much he loved us, how much they had done and how proud he was of us. And what I will miss most is his unconditional love." EPILOGUE e preacher would take pause at the graveside service, and with apology. "So, Ritchie, although I was unsuccessful in finding a way to incorporate one of your favorite songs, 'Sweet Georgia Brown,' I believe we can close out with this one," Blackman said. "It was originally a 19th century Protestant hymn, and has become the anthem of New Orleans, carrying a theme of redemption and salvation." Oh, when the saints go marching in When the saints go marching in Oh, Lord I want to be in that number When the saints go marching in "Everybody loved Ritchie in the community," the Rev. Blackman would say, "and he simply and unashamedly loved people." Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at bkirby@cityviewnc.com or 910-624-1961. Read more of Bill Kirby Jr. in our Insider Newsletter. Subscribe at cityviewnc.com or text CityView to 22999. Fayetteville's Certified Accessibility Specialist 910-387-1225 www.nextdayaccess.com Handrails Grab Bars Pool Lifts Stair & Porch Lifts Residential Ramps (Purchase or rental) Ceiling & Patient Lifts Bathroom Safety Products STAY IN YOUR HOME LONGER & SAFER! • Handrails • Grab Bars • Pool Lifts • Stair & Porch Lifts • Residential Ramps (Purchase or rental) • Ceiling & Patient Lifts • Bathroom Safety Products STAY in your home LONGER & SAFER Co-Founders Bert Tharp and Dennis Long CORPORATE & CONTINUING EDUCATION SPRING 2021 REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOW! REGISTER ONLINE: WWW.LEARNFTCC.COM | 910-678-0032 BARBER TRAINING JANUARY 5, 2021 THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE JANUARY 12, 2021

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