Rev. Hilton O. Smith

April 21, 1946 - March 5, 2026

Corporate executive Reverend Hilton O. Smith was born on April 21, 1946, in Elizabethtown, North Carolina to Jack Smith, Jr. and Willie Hall Smith. He received his B.A. degree in political science and sociology from St. Augustine’s University in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1968. Later, Smith also earned a labor relations specialist certification from Cornell University’s School of Labor Relations in Ithaca, New York.

Smith began his career working in the City of Cleveland’s health department for Mayor Carl B. Stokes. In 1972, he joined Turner Construction Company as an equal employment opportunity coordinator and rose through the ranks, becoming in 1995 senior vice president for corporate and community affairs. In this role, he also led the Turner School of Construction Management, resulting in more than $22 billion being awarded to thousands of minority- and women-owned businesses. Alongside his corporate career, Smith became an associate minister for the Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio in 2010.

Smith held numerous leadership positions in civic and professional organizations including as president of the Cleveland chapter of the NAACP and board positions with the Cleveland Foundation; the Construction Industry Advancement Program (UCIP-ASAP); Cuyahoga Community College; University Hospitals in Cleveland; the NAACP National Foundation; the United Black Fund; the United Way; the Urban League of Greater Cleveland; the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; and St. Augustine’s University, where he was board chair. Smith also served on the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC) National Board beginning in 1975 and became an emeritus national board member in 2016 after forty-one years of service. He chaired the Cleveland Municipal School District board beginning in 1998 and was a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Among Smith’s honors is the Black Professional of the Year Award from the Black Professionals Association Charitable Foundation, which he received in 2004.

Smith resided in Aurora, Ohio. He is survived by his wife, Masha; four children; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Visitation

Calhoun Funeral Home Rockside Road

23000 Rockside Road

Bedford Heights, OH 44146

440-232-9758

Thursday 3/19, 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm

The family will be present to receive friends from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Service

The Word Church

18909 S Miles Road

Cleveland , Ohio 44128

Friday 3/20, 10:30 am

Wake will be held at 9:30 am until service time.

Cemetery

Lake View Cemetery

12316 Euclid Avenue

Cleveland, Ohio 44106

Friday 3/20, 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm