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Bishop Dabney Smith (1953-2024)

The Rt. Rev. Dabney Smith, the fifth Bishop of Southwest Florida, died October 26 after a brief hospitalization, at 70.

“His deep faith, practical wisdom, and lighthearted sense of humor were a blessing to all who knew him, and his steady leadership guided our diocese through many challenges over the course of his fifteen years as our bishop,” said his successor, the Rt. Rev. Douglas Scharf, in a message to the diocese.

After his retirement from the St. Petersburg-based Southwestern diocese in 2022, Smith moved to Orlando, and had been assisting in the Diocese of Central Florida.

“Though only with us nine months, his wisdom, faith, and tender-hearted care left an indelible mark on me, our diocesan staff, and all those he ministered to. Personally, I grieve the loss of a mentor and a friend,” wrote Bishop Justin Holcomb of Central Florida.

Born in Texas, Smith grew up in Florida, where his father, Dorsey, was rector of parishes in Ormond Beach and Tampa. He graduated from the University of South Florida and trained for ministry at Nashotah House. He later earned a doctorate in ministry from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary.

After a curacy in Florida, Smith served as rector of St. Michael and All Angels in South Bend, Indiana, and Holy Trinity Church and School in Melbourne, Florida, before moving to New Orleans to become rector of Trinity Church in January 2005, eight months before the city was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. There he served on the Jericho Road Episcopal Housing Initiative, a ministry focused on creating housing for hurricane victims as well as the diocesan rebuilding task force.

Smith was elected bishop on the first ballot on December 9, 2006, and was consecrated at St. Jude’s Cathedral, the Roman Catholic cathedral in St. Petersburg, on March 10, 2007. As bishop, he focused on leadership development, education, and camping ministry, and created two endowment funds to support diocesan ministry, including expanded work at DaySpring Episcopal Conference Center.

He served on the Episcopal Church’s Executive Council, was chairman of the Episcopal Church Building Fund, and a member of the board of trustees for Seminary of the Southwest and Nashotah House. He was a candidate for Presiding Bishop in 2015.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Wallis Smith, and by two sons and three daughters, as well as grandchildren.

A Requiem Eucharist for Bishop Smith will be offered at 1 p.m. November 11 at the Cathedral of St. Luke in Orlando. Former Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will serve as celebrant and former Bishop of Chicago Jeffrey Lee will preach.

Mark Michael
Mark Michael
The Rev. Mark Michael is editor-in-chief of The Living Church. An Episcopal priest, he has reported widely on global Anglicanism, and also writes about church history, liturgy, and pastoral ministry.

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