Rudolph Smith, of Boston, passed away on May 25, 2025. He was 84 years old.

Rudolph Smith Sr. departed this life surrounded by his loved ones on May 25, 2025.

He was born on May 13, 1941, in Pineapple, Alabama to the late Rudolph Andrew and Dannie Smith. As a child, he grew up in Birmingham, Alabama where he attended school and played baseball, his favorite sport.

In 1960, Rudolph relocated to Boston, Massachusetts where he sought employment to help take care of his mother and siblings. He was the eldest of 12 children, and he was more of a father figure to them than a big brother. He demonstrated his immense love for them by doing whatever he could.

For several years, he worked at the Beacon Electric Company in Boston, MA and then later at the Walworth Steel Factory in Braintree, MA. He was also a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church of Boston, MA and the Roxbury Men’s Club of Boston, MA.

Rudolph fancied custom-made cars and loved to drive around the city while listening to music. His favorite car that he always talked about was his gold and white 75’ RT Dodge, which he lovingly referred to as his deuce and a quarter. His passion for cars and driving organically evolved into a second career of providing transportation services. This was not just a business for him; it was also his ministry. Rudolph greeted every customer with his bright smile and gladly took them wherever they needed to go. He always engaged in lively conversation and strived to ensure that every customer had a great ride, arrived at their destination on time, and had an even better day. For 40 years, he took great pride in providing excellent service to every customers until his health began to fail.

Rudolph Sr. did love cars, but he also loved to dress. You never caught him in a pair of jeans or a sweatsuit. His standard of a well-dressed man consisted of a nice watch, and either a suit and tie or a neatly pressed dress shirt and pair of dress pants, dress socks, a stylish hat, and a pair of well-shined Stacey Adam shoes. And of course, he was always clean shaven and smelled really good.

Some of his favorite past times were cooking breakfast consisting of eggs, sausage, bacon, grits, and toast topped off with a nice hot cup of black coffee, and his favorite meal and desserts were collard greens, potato salad, fried chicken, blackberry dumplings and sweet potato pie. Rudolph enjoyed traveling down south to visit friends and family living in Mississippi, Birmingham, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida. He also enjoyed going fishing down the Cape even though he did not eat fish with bones. On Sundays, he loved to watch televised church services and gospel videos with Betty in the morning, and in the afternoons, he and Little Rudolph would watch Law and Order, NCIS: LA, and Gun Smoke. Some of his favorite musical artists were Aretha Franklin, Otis Clay, and Maragret Allison and the Angelic Gospel Singers, and his favorite songs were Amazing Grace and Take My Hand, Precious Lord.

Rudolph Smith, Sr., fought the good fight, and never did he ever consider throwing in the towel. No matter what challenges he faced in life or how hard his health journey became, he pressed on and never gave up. Rudolph Smith Sr. will be remembered as both courageous and a true fighter!

He was preceded in death by: His parents, Dannie Smith (mother) and Rudolph Andrew (father), his siblings: Eddie Ray “Jack” Smith, Landry Smith and Dannie Mae Moorer, and his grandson, Eugene Rankin, Jr.

He leaves to cherish his life and memories:

His Devoted Wife and Friend of 58 years: Mrs. Betty L. McMullen-Smith of Boston, MA

His Children: Nilisha Turner (Eddie) of Birmingham, AL, Tonya McCorvey of Roxbury, MA, Yvette Williams (Wesley) of Texas, Jocelyn Henry-Crayton (Laurence) of Boston, MA, Angel Evans (Bobby) of Indiana, and Rudolph Smith, Jr. of Boston, MA

His Eight Siblings: Eddie Mae Lopes of Marietta, GA, Nathaniel Smith (Brenda) of Boston, MA, Timothy Smith (Deborah) of Andover, MA, Larry Smith (Lisa) of Boston, MA, Juanita Smith of Boston, MA, Muriel King of Mableton, GA, John Andrew of Pensacola, FL, and Lawrence Andrew (Mercedes) of Pensacola, FL.

And a host of grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Family and friend invited to attend visitation on Saturday June 14th from 10-11 AM in the Dolan Funeral Home, 1140 Washington Street, Dorchester Lower Mills.

Funeral Service will follow in the Funeral Home at 11 AM.

Interment in St. Michael Cemetery, Boston.

Repast will be private.