Chris Smith's Mother Goes home Mary Estell Smith |
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| The family received
friends at Higgins Funeral Home in Benton, Tennessee, on Friday, April 18th, 2008, from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm. Funeral services followed visitation at 7:30 pm with the Reverends Joel Jenkins and Homer Belcher officiating. Graveside services
were held at 10:00 am, Saturday, April 19, 2008, Mary and
Arnold Smith were wed on July 18th, 1955. In addition to her husband, Arnold, In lieu of
flowers, Mary had requested that donations be made to Chris's singing ministry: Chris's website is presently
undergoing an update, |
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Chris Smith has one of the most amazing vocal ranges we've ever heard. Like every former and current Inspiration, Chris is busy traveling and singing. He now spreads the Good News in a music ministry of his own, known as The One-Man Quartet. The first and most important step for Chris, in honoring God's will in his life, was accepting Jesus Christ as Savior when he was 9 years old. From that moment on, Chris' life would go through many twists and turns, but it would always point to the same calling. Chris' singing story, like the original Inspirations story, began in high school. A group, encouraged by Johnny Coe, won first place in a local contest, went on to win first place in the regional contest, and for the next five years would travel and sing locally as The Hymnals Quartet. About a year into their singing , in an effort to help them improve their performance, Mr. Coe took them to Chattanooga to see a Professional Quartet program. "Not knowing that such a thing existed, we had no idea of what to expect", Chris says. The featured group was The Inspirations from Bryson City, NC. "I knew that one day, not knowing when or how, it would be necessary for me to travel and sing with that group in order for a part of God's will for my life to be fulfilled." |
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Chris left The Inspirations in May 1991, and he and Amanda were wed in June of that year. "When I had to leave them, I thought that any further efforts to honor God through my singing would only be counted as 'falling back' and that I would be viewed as a 'has been'. After God had some very personal dealings with me, He made me realize that my way of thinking couldn't have been further from the truth." After much praying and planning, Smith returned to the road as "Chris Smith - The One-Man Quartet." He started his first singing dates and began working on a full-time schedule. |
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Just as the Lord has continued to bless Chris' ministry, He also blessed Chris and Amanda's family. In 1994, God blessed the Smiths when a son, little Samuel, was born. In 1997, the Smith's had twin girls, Rachael and Hannah. |
Now available are Chris' first three albums, "Moving To A Mansion", "Unworthy", and "Thank You For The Sacrifice". "Moving To A Mansion" features a very catchy song, "Where We Gonna Put the Piano?" "Unworthy" features a special song that demonstrates the old shaped note type singing (Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do), "The Old Time Singing School." "Thank You For The Sacrifice" contains another novelty song guaranteed to make you think, "Church of the Frigid-Air". All 3 recordings contain lively gospel songs that uplift the Lord Jesus Christ. Chris generally tours in a 19 state radius, singing in concerts and church Services. He also travels annually to The Great Western Quartet Convention in California, singing in churches as he moves across the country. In 1996, his mother, Mary Smith, became the Quartet's Assistant Manager and began traveling with Chris full-time. Chris' wife, Amanda, came on board in 1998 as the Quartet's Booking Agent and Secretary. The One-Man Quartet is presented by using sound tracks of three of Chris' voice parts prerecorded and by doing a fourth part live. Chris' ministry is always well received wherever he goes. NOTE: Chris sang baritone with the Inspirations in the
late 80s |
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| "It's a great honor to travel and sing for Him!" | |
In June, 2002, Chris was released by the neurosurgeon and no longer wears his brace unless he is experiencing back pain. However, the injury will not be completely healed for several more months. Chris has resumed a full schedule and is truly enjoying being back on the road. He wants everyone to know that he will be at the Reunions in 2003, the Lord willing. Sam, Rachael, and Hannah are glad to see their dad recovering. They are able to crawl on him and wrestle again. Sam has begun first grade here at home. The girls will not start school until next year. I on the other hand have just finished school. I received a Bachelors of Science Degree in Accounting on August 3rd, 2002. My plans are to continue scheduling for The One-Man Quartet and continue our kids homeschooling. We want to thank all of the people who have prayed for and encouraged our family over the past year. Truly God has worked miracles in our life. Thanks so much,
Amanda Smith Chris Smith
Seriously Injured in Auto Accident Shortly before 9:00 am, on Friday morning, March 1, 2002, former Inspirations baritone, Chris Smith, had just dropped his four-year old twin daughters, Hannah and Rachael, at their day care center. He was traveling on Highway 411 on the way to the local Post Office near his home in Benton, Tennessee. A young driver, approximately 17 years of age, with a new pickup truck, in a possible attempt to pass or turn drifted into the wrong lane. He apparently failed to notice Chris' van, and the accident occurred. To avoid a head-on collision, Chris swerved but was still struck by the other vehicle, his van rolling into a deep culvert. Chris' minivan went over an embankment, flipped and rolled several times; the air bags failed to deploy, and Chris impacted the windshield. The windshield was broken out, along with all the other windows in the van. A young minister who witnessed the accident, stopped and immediately crawled down to the van. He entered into the van as much as possible through an opening; found Chris, but also noticed some baby blankets that Amanda keeps handy for the children to use on trips. Less than five minutes earlier, Chris had dropped our twin girls, Hannah and Rachael, at daycare, and our son, Sam, had decided to stay home with me. Otherwise they would all have been in the van during the accident. It took a few moments for Chris to convince the minister that he was the lone occupant. Rescue crews and Tennessee Highway Patrol officers arrived soon, and they were able to extricate Chris by using the "jaws of life" device. It took paramedics about an hour to cut him out of the van, at which time he was in and out of consciousness. Chris was taken to a local hospital where a decision was quickly made to airlift him to a nearby larger hospital in Chattanooga for further observation and treatment.He only spent five days at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Again we praise the Lord for His grace and mercy. At this time, the injuries appear to be as follows: four broken ribs, compressed discs in his spinal column, chipped vertebrae, pneumo-thoracic bruising with some bleeding in the lung cavity area plus severe scalp and facial lacerations and swelling. Despite the extremely serious nature of these injuries, Doctors have assured both Chris and Amanda that they are not life threatening! We also praise The Lord for that. As of today, Monday, the doctors are still deciding if surgery will be necessary, and if so, to what extent. Conservative estimates of Chris' recovery time is 8 to 10 weeks if no surgery is necessary; but if surgery is indicated and performed, the recovery time may be one year. The doctors have also told him that he is not to pick up anything (as in ABSOLUTELY NOTHING) for six months. Please help us pray that God will give special wisdom, knowledge and skill to the doctors and other medical professionals who will be attending to Chris' needs. Please also pray for Amanda as she makes decisions on how best to do God's will at this time. Amanda has been a full-time student at Lee University in Chattanooga, TN, and will have to make decisions about if, when and how best to continue her schooling. (NOTE: The van Chris normally drives on his travels around the country as "The One Man Quartet" was in a repair shop getting an overhaul. He was using Amanda's van, so both vehicles are currently unusable.) From all accounts of those who witnessed the accident, Chris did everything possible to avoid the collision, but his efforts were not enough. The patrolman who investigated included this in his report taken from the witnesses as well. We can still see so much evidence of God's hand at work. Thankfully, no one else was injured in the accident, not even the young driver. (Please pray for the young man. We have been told that he is genuinely devastated.) We can't finish without still more praise for The Lord for something we believe also is a miracle. You may decide for yourself. Sam, Chris and Amanda's six year-old son, likes to "help his Dad" do everything, and he likes to earn more than just his allowance. Sam gives 25 cent shoulder rubs, and friends and family (especially his Grandmas and Grandpas) know he is always looking for a way to add to his piggy bank. Chris often "hires" Sam to go on trips, etc., which gives Amanda a few quiet minutes to straighten up at home and prepare for the day. Any other morning, Sam would have been first in the van to help deliver the girls to daycare and get his "pay", but for some reason on Friday, he told his Mom he was going to "just stay with her". We believe we know the reason Sam wanted to stay home, and we especially thank The Lord for the special protection He provided for Sam ahead of time. If you
would like to contact Chris, the address is as follows: |
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