Pastor Ralph L. Smith Sr.

Ralph LaValle Salise Smith was born to Betty Smith (Brown) and Ralph Roberts in St. Louis, MO. On January 26, 1968.  He was the second oldest child of four children.

Ralph’s family were members of Mount Airy Missionary Baptist Church where his grandfather, Willie Smith Sr. served as a deacon. Ralph was baptized at an early age and loved the Lord. 

Ralph attended Hickey Elementary School from Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. Ralph attended Christian Brothers College High school where he flourished in varsity football and he earned a full athletic Scholarship. Numerous prospects wanted to sign Ralph but he followed his parents wishes to continue his education. He also was involved in drama and starred in the play, “ A Soldier’s Story”. 

After graduating CBC High School, Ralph pursued his college football career attending Kemper Military Academy in Boonville, MO. He later returned to St. Louis and enrolled in Tarkio College and Majored in Computer Science. 

Ralph met and fell in love with the beautiful girl next door, Chandra Charzetta Jones in 1988, and they became inseparable. They married in Holy matrimony in March 11, 1991. 

In 2003, Pastor Ralph was licensed as a minister by (ICFM) International Convention of Fatih Ministries by Dennis Burke. Ralph along- side his wife Chandra went on to help different ministries around the St. Louis area which includes, Higher Heights Christian Church, Footsteps of Jesus Christ, St. Louis Christian Center, Peace Tabernacle, Mount Chapel Missionary Baptist, Assemblies of Faith, Shekinah Glory Ministries, City of Hope, Angels of God and Kingsway Baptist Church. 

In 2005, God spoke to the hearts of Pastor Ralph & Chandra Smith to start their own church, The Kingdom Learning Center. The Kingdom Learning Center was a place where he informed, taught, oversaw and planted many ministries  under the umbrella of Hephzibah International Ministries (H.I.M.) from 2005-2015.

Ralph was a caring, loving, and nurturing husband to Chandra Smith for 30 years. When you think of marriage and two becoming one these two set a great example. Being a husband was one of his greatest accomplishments. He would make sure Chandra was beautiful in every way. He loved, cherished, and adored her.

Ralph was a great father who would do anything for his children. He loved and cared for each of them and wanted the very best for them. No matter where life took them he was always there to give advice, money, and most of all his time. One of his saying was, “I will give the guidelines and stay on the side lines, but he was never afraid to correct when needed.

In 2016, Ralph was led by God to submit himself and his family to sit under the leadership of Pastors Darnell and Rochelle West at Church in Action now known as Influence Church.

Pastor Ralph learned a lot from aforementioned Pastors. Pastor Ralph was a great leader in the Kingdom.

He was a campus development Pastor who help to implement, build, and equip teams at each of the campuses. He also played a role as the Program Director for the food program that fed thousands of children.

Pastor Ralph and Pastor Darnell had a very special bond and became great friends. They would talk several times a day about business and ministry. While serving, learning, and watching how Pastor Darnell led the people at Influence Church he taught Pastor Ralph how to be a gentle-man. Pastor Darnell showed Pastor Ralph how to strategically lead the people of GOD. Pastor Ralph often said that Pastor Darnell was a master builder of people. Pastor Ralph always respected how Pastors Darnell and Rochelle led Influence Church as one. He often said, There is no Pastor Darnell without Pastor Rochelle and no Pastor Rochelle without Pastor Darnell. Pastor Ralph said, “ GOD sent him on assignment to Influence Church to help Pastor Darnell and Rochelle  complete the vision given by GOD.” From that day forth Pastor Ralph was on mission and the rest is history.

Ralph was a man of purpose, integrity, and results. Many people talk a lot about problems, but Ralph would get to the solutions. One of his favorite sayings was “I’m all about results.” Ralph was an incredible husband, an amazing father, a natural born leader, a great teacher, and an overall great friend. 
When he said he had your back, he meant it.

Ralph leaves to cherish, his wife Chandra Smith, four children, Will Powell(Teliss), Whitney Smith, Ralph Smith Jr., and Kamronn Smith. His mother Betty Brown, sisters, Marshay(James) Floyd, Velura Lester and brother, Lamond Allen, grand-children, Darrell, Dannell, Is’real and Machiah Powell, Marlee Fitts-Smith, Derrick Barnes, special nieces, Lamayah, Shuriya, Laylah, and a host of other nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, and friends

Please click in the Service Program link below to view the entire obituary. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Pastor Ralph L. Smith Sr., please visit our floral store.