Julius King

Smith

Julius King Smith was born on March 12, 1982 in Teaneck, NJ to the late Deborah Jones and Jerome King Smith Sr. He departed this life on Monday July 5, 2020. Julius' oldest brother Leondre named Julius after his favorite basketball player Julius (Dr. J.) Irving. While his mother was in the middle of relocating from Delaware back to New Jersey Julius and his brother Jerome moved back to Englewood where his grandmother Audrey, Aunt Sylvia and his mother's sisters Ahwenetta and Arlana opened their homes to help raise both of them like they were one of their own.

While living in Englewood at an early age with his grandmother Audrey and Aunt Ahwenetta's family it was at this time Julius began his relationship with God. And this was one of those families you hear of that has worship 7 days a week. Church on Sunday, Bible Study on Monday, Special worship on Tuesday, Prayer meeting on Wednesday etc. Having a relationship with God was so important the family would get scissors and cut out the word "devil" off the box of devil food cakes because they refused to allow any form of the devil in the house.

Once Julius' mother Deborah relocated from Delaware back to New Jersey, while settled in Edgewater NJ, this is where he started to take sports seriously, and played basketball with his oldest brother Leondre as the head coach. Leondre was dedicated to teaching Julius everything from mastering the game to teamwork, He even taught him his go to bounce 1-2 move. This same energy and compassion his brother Leondre gave him is why he was so tough on his nephew Leondre Washington ll. Julius made sure the same toughness and teachings he learned from his big brother, he would instill in his nephew Leondre ll, especially after his oldest brother Leondre's passing.

Although Julius brother Jerome was named after their father, Julius was more like his father than anyone could imagine. From the way he talked to the way he expressed himself. But just like his father Julius turned to God. His father was his inspiration and walking testimony.

Julius's love for his father was incomparable, but the love he had for his mother was unmatched. Some even would say he was a momma's boy. If you talked to Julius for 20 minutes he would talk about…God, his mother or his children. His mother Deborah loved him and his brothers more than anything in the world. The love his mother had for him is where he learned to love his children Julia and Julius II. Both of them are his pride and joy. Their births brought new meaning to his life. After his mother's passing Julius made it a point that he kept his mother name relevant in his children ears along with God. Although Julius' life was cut short, his wish to be buried next to his mother was granted by the grace of God.

Julius is and will be missed, but we now have comfort in knowing he's now entered the kingdom of Heaven where he will be lovingly greeted by his mother Deborah and oldest brother Leondre.

He  leaves  to  cherish  his  memory: Grandmothers,  Audrey  Jones and Ruth Smith;  father, and step mother Jerome and Kelley Smith; son Julius Smith ll and daughter Julia Smith; brother Jerome Smith Jr and step sister Stacey Worthy.;  and a host of aunts, uncles, nephews, cousins and friends who loved him, and will miss him dearly.