Our Deans

Rev. Freddie Smith, DeanPastor of Canaan Baptist Church, Texarkana

Dean F. L. Smith is in his 35^th year as pastor of the Canaan Baptist Church at Texarkana, Arkansas. He served as pastor of the Union Baptist Church at Fulton, Arkansas for nearly seven years before being called to Canaan.

A native of Turrell, Arkansas, Rev. Smith is the third of twelve children, born to the late Earnest and Minnie Smith. He accepted his call into the ministry and was licensed to preach the gospel in 1969 and ordained in 1973.

Rev. Smith holds an Associate of Arts Degree from Southern Baptist Junior College. He furthered his education at Ouachita Baptist University where he graduated with a (Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology; with a minor In Religion and Psychology) and a Master of Arts Degree (Secondary Education). He also holds a degree in Theology from the Unity Theological Seminary at Monroe, Louisiana.

Having been recognized as a certified dean by the National Baptist Convention Sunday School Publishers Board, Rev. Smith serves as the Dean of the Southwest District Missionary Baptist Association Congress of Christian Education. He is the newly appointed Dean of the Arkansas Consolidated Missionary Baptist State Convention Department of Christian Education.

Rev. Smith is the dean and is an instructor for the Texarkana Seminary. He is co-chair, and has served on the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope/Texarkana Board of Visitors since September 20, 1996.

After serving for 37 years with Arkansas Rehabilitation Services, Rev. Smith retired in October 2014 as District Manager. He is a past president of the Kiwanis Club of Hope and a past president of the Hope Baseball Association. He is past President of Southwest Arkansas Workforce (WIA) Youth Council. He holds many awards and continuing education certificates.

Rev. Smith resides in Fulton, Arkansas with his wife Linda. They are the parents of two adult children and the grandparents of three grandsons.

Dean's Page

Deacon Willie Buck, Assistant DeanDeacon at Lonoke Baptist Church, Hope

Deacon Willie Buck is a member of Lonoke Baptist Church in Hope Arkansas. He united with Lonoke Baptist church in 1975 when He moved from Magnolia to take a job at Red River Vocational Technical School. Deacon Buck has been and is an active member of the Church. He has served as Sunday school teacher for the young adult class, and the men’s class in the adult department. Currently he teaches the intermediate and senior class in the youth department. He also teaches classes in Vacation Bible School. Deacon Buck is also Chairman of Deacons, and Director of Christian Education.

Deacon Buck came to Arkansas from DeQuincy, Louisiana. He graduated from Grand Avenue High School.

Buck is the first of six children born to the late parents of Willie and Elva Buck

After Buck graduated from High School He attended Grambling State University where He received a BSE in Business Education. He attended Auburn University in Auburn Alabama to work on his Master’s Degree. He earned 30 hours there before moving to Hope where he earned a Master of Science Degree from East Texas State University in Texarkana. Buck taught at the University of Arkansas in Business Technology for 35 years. He also served as the Dean and retired in May of 2010.

Deacon Buck teaches religious classes (Effective Bible Reading 1004, The Synoptic Gospel 1075, Organizing the Church for Christian Education 6013) in the state, and District. He also serves as Assistant Dean in the District and has completed all the classes to become a Certified Dean.

Deacon Buck lives in Hope, Arkansas with his wife Bobbie. They are the parents of two adult children, the grandparents of six grandchildren, and one great grandchild.