O. H. Smith & Son Funeral Home is one of the oldest Mortuary businesses in the city’s East End section of Newport News. In the Spring of 1933, Otis H. Smith, Sr. started the business. A tiny mark on the face of time and that moment became the birth of an entity, “O. H. Smith Funeral Home.” In the year 1932, many things tried to deter Otis H. Smith, Sr. from entering the funeral profession. Despite the odds with the help of his father, he began the business that operated from the two story framed house on Chestnut Avenue. As the years passed, the adjoining houses on both sides were purchased and became a part of the business facility. At that time the family operated business included his late wife, Willie Smith and their late daughter, Jean Grimes, all licensed Funeral Directors. In 1969 the business was renamed to O. H. Smith & Son Funeral Home and Otis H. Smith, Jr., joined the business full time following graduation from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1972. Otis H. Smith, Jr. became manager in 1975 after his father’s semi-retirement and later demise on August 9, 1990. Now history repeats itself, in its second and third generation with Otis H. Smith, Jr., wife, Armeke D. Smith and their daughter, Chavelá D. Painter, all licensed Funeral Directors & Embalmers. Along with other dedicated licensed and professionally trained staff committed to carrying on the Legacy of High Standards of Funeral Service. Under the founder’s guidance and wisdom the business was established, rebuilt and continues to prosper...three generations later.
