Howard Taylor Smith, Jr.

Howard Taylor Smith, Jr., of Fort Washington, MD, passed away peacefully with his family surrounding him on February 1, 2023.

Howard "Chunky" Smith was born January 23, 1963, to the late Howard Taylor Smith, Sr. and Josephine Theresa (West) Smith in Washington, DC. Chunky attended John Burroughs Elementary and then the family moved to Mt. Rainier, MD where he attended Mt. Rainier Elementary, Thomas Stone Elementary, Mt. Rainier Junior High and he graduated from Northwestern High School in 1982. Chunky was very athletic and participated in several Hyattsville Maryland Brentwood (HMB) team sports such as football, basketball, and track. However, his real love was basketball. Chunky was the captain of the basketball team at Mt. Rainier Junior High School, where he led his team to the State Championship and won! Chunky attended Northwestern High School where he played on the varsity basketball team his sophomore year. Chunky was a shooting guard and played on the High School Championship team in 1982, against archrival High Point High School where they lost the game by two points at the buzzard. Chunky briefly attended Howard County Community College. During his dating years, Chunky met Joan Blair and got married. Through their union his beautiful daughter Adaysha Smith was born. Chunky worked at TGI Friday’s in downtown, DC for several years, as a manager. He later married Gale Lake and through their union they had his son, Howard Taylor Smith III, known as “Tre”. After leaving TGI Friday’s he became a grounds keeper at George Washington University (GWU). He served over 20 years before retiring due to health issues. He received several awards including Employee of the Month and Award of Excellence in Safety at GWU. Chunky was the oldest of six siblings and he took his role very seriously. When his mother was not home (and even when she was) he was in charge. He made sure his siblings stayed in line and did what they were expected to do. If Chunky said no, the answer was no. He was also a huge protector, he ensured everyone he loved was protected. It was known to everyone not to mess with his family. Chunky loved oldies but goodies and you could often find him at home downstairs at the bar with his music playing. He was also a decent cook and was famous for his “Big Smitty” sandwich. Chunky loved to dress, smell good and he loved the ladies and they loved him too. He was also a huge fan of go-go music and could be found playing it loudly in his car.

In addition to his parents, Howard was preceded in death by his grandfather Wilbur West, grandmother Ellen Wells, and Aunt Joyce Ford.

Howard leaves to cherish his memory siblings Gregory Smith, Kim Hamilton (Gustav), Cheryl Matthews, Sheila Hayes (Henry), brother Sean Harris, and adopted sister Schenika Quattlebaum, daughter, Adaysha Smith, son, Howard “Tre” Smith, granddaughter Mariyah Smith and grandson Zi’yon Smith, nieces Tirece, Jazmyn, Charde, Princess, Shalon, and nephews Talonte, Sean and Micheal, great nieces Temani, Talaiya, Ta’ior and great nephews Ayden and Mathias, his aunts, uncles, a slew of cousins, best friends Tony Greene, Eric Payne and Carrada Stewart and host of other loved ones.