Reverend Quinde Ernest Smith 61 of Leesburg went to be with the Lord Saturday, April 5, at his home. He was born in Deland but lived his whole life in Leesburg. He attended Leesburg schools, graduating in 1971. While in high school he was an active member of the band program. He played trumpet in concert band and French horn in marching band. His senior year he was the drum major. Quinde earned an Associate's Degree in Engineering Design at LSCC. While still in high school he had started working in the glass and mirror business, Smitty's Glass with his dad. He continued that into adulthood. Later, he worked in the restaurant business as an assistant manager at Sambo's and Bonanza restaurants. He worked at Romac Lumber for a time in the 80's, working in the window department and later cabinet department. He struck out on his own from Romac to build and install custom cabinetry in the Isleworth section of Orlando. In 1993, Quinde started teaching cabinet building as a vocational teacher at Lake Correctional Institute in Clermont. He always considered it more than a job, more like a mission. He enjoyed his work there very much. He has taught at LCI now almost 20 years. Quinde was a very spiritual man. He loved the Lord from an early age. He served the Lord as youth and music director at Main Street Baptist Church of Leesburg in his early adulthood. In 1983, Quinde was called to lead the music for a revival at First Southern Baptist Church in Lady Lake. He realized while there that God was calling him to remain as music director. Three years after that, God called him to be ordained as a minister of the gospel, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Tom Newman of Seville, FL. Quinde has continued to serve at First Southern Baptist, a total of 31 years. Quinde was predeceased by his father and mother, Herman E. Smith and Grace Gwendolyn Newman Smith. He leaves behind, his wife of almost 39years, Wanda, his two brothers, Bruce of Marianna, FL, and Emory of Umatilla, his daughter Alacia Smith of Leesburg, his son James Smith (Amanda) of Tavares, and his beautiful grandchildren Laiona Alyssa Sullivan of Leesburg, Dominik and Charles Smith of Tavares. A memorial celebration of his life will be held Tuesday, April 8,6 pm atFirst Southern Baptist Church 2933 Griffin View Drive, Lady Lake, FL, supper reception following at the church. For those who wish, memorials may be made to First Southern Baptist Church P.O. Box 185 Lady Lake,FL 32159. Arrangements entrusted to Beyers Funeral Home and Crematory, Leesburg, FL.