Hollis Rudolph Smith

Hollis Rudolph Smith passed away on Friday, March 12, 2021 at Parkview Rehabilitation Center in Winter Park, Florida at the age of 83 from colon cancer. He was born Rudolph Smith on May 1, 1937 in Chaguanas, Trinidad, West Indies to Alexander Smith and Lauretta Smith (Marlow). He migrated to New York City in 1968 where he worked in a vinegar factory. Hollis married Justina Lynn Joseph on October 5, 1968. The following year, their daughter, Judy, was born on October 4, 1969. In 1974, Hollis and his family moved to Jersey City, New Jersey. He obtained his GED at Martin Luther King High School which he was very proud of; and he tutored  adults in Math and Reading. He encouraged many adults to continue their education and earn their GED. 

Hollis worked in the textile industry for Shoreland Textile and Eldridge Textile as a sales representative. After retiring from the textile industry, he became a school bus driver for Jersey City Board of Education. Eventually, Hollis moved to Central Florida and worked for Payless Shoes and Old Tyme Pottery. After retiring from retail, he moved to Trinidad to live for a short time. He then moved back to Central Florida and settled in Orlando. 

Hollis made many friends. He enjoyed having long conversations about his family, politics and religion. He loved listening to Calypso, Steelpan, Reggae, R&B, and classic music, He also enjoyed watching good movies and reading good books including Astrology. 

Hollis leaves to mourn his daughters, Judy Belton (Clarence), Kendra Cooper; stepdaughter, Victoria Justice (William); sons, Hollis Vankummer (Paula), Hollis Smith Jr.; Stepson, Winston Braithwaite; grandchildren, Sharmaine, Jenelle, Dominic, Natalie, Kamieo and Fanaka; step-grandchildren, Lisa, Diana, Winston Jr., Jermaine (Crystal), Christopher, Amanda; step-great-grandchildren, Valerie and Nicole; siblings, Edith Boyd, June Layne (Esau), Alexander Smith Jr., Jennifer Jones, Arthur Smith-Baptiste (Elizabeth), Judith Ann Scott (Roger) and Debra Ann Smith-Baptiste; nieces and nephews, Ruth, Francesca, David, Lisa, Gerard, Ayesha, Atiba, Meesha, Khalil; nine great-nieces and great-nephews and several step nieces and nephews. Hollis also leaves dear and close friends to mourn especially Bertrand and Joan Moore, James and Rosemary Babb, Carl Pinder Jr., Esther Arthur and Pamela Rock.

His funeral will be held on Friday, March 19, 2021 at St. Andrews Church, 101 N. Hastings St., Orlando, Fl. 32808. Viewing will be at 10:00AM followed by the Mass at 11:00AM. His final resting place will be Greenwood Cemetery, Orlando, Florida. For live stream: http://standrew-orlando.org/