I was born on 3rd October 1951, the son of Richmond M. Smith and Hyacinth B. Smith (nee Astwood), in a loving family and we were raised in our family home at Astwood Walk in Warwick. When we were living in Warwick I attended primary school at Heron Bay. I had an older brother Clinton, two younger sisters, Branwen and Sonia, along with a younger brother Trevor.
Ronnie with his mother Hyacinth, sisters We moved to Spanish Point when I was 11 and I attended West Pembroke School for a year before attending the Bermuda Technical Institute where my PE teacher was Tom Smith. I went abroad to Fryeburg Academy in Maine for my final 2 years of high school.
I was always keen on sports as was my older brother Clinton who was an excellent football player and captained PHC Juniors. I really enjoyed football and played for several teams including PHC and Bombadiers who later became Warwick United. I also played soccer for Fryeburg Academy in the fall of 1968 and was captain of Fryeburg’s soccer team in the fall season of 1969.
While at Bermuda Technical Institute (BTI) I had been encouraged by Tom Smith to participate in sports and I used to run cross country and represented BTI in Inter-School Cross Country events. While attending Fryeburg I continued running to keep fit and in the Spring of both years I ran the 880 yard event in inter-school sports for Fryeburg. Little did I realize then that sports would continue to play a major role when I joined the Bermuda Police Force
My father was in construction and after finishing school I started working for him then tried a couple of other construction companies, but I never felt that was the life for me.
I went through a very tough time when my first wife and I tragically lost our 5 month old baby, Ronald Keith Smith Jnr. to crib death. I was very depressed and felt lacking in direction.
I can’t recall exactly why, but one day I developed an interest in becoming a policeman. I applied and was interviewed by Inspector “Sykes” Smith who was very supportive. CLICK HERE to view our “Hall of Fame” article about William Maurice “Sykes” Smith.
“Sykes” Smith went on to become I officially joined the Bermuda Police Force on June 1, 1973, and was scheduled to attend the next Basic Training Course (Class 16) starting on June 18, 1973. In the interim period between joining and Basic Training I worked in the Police Stores Department with PC Lynn Hall issuing Police uniforms and equipment.
Top Row (l-r) Christopher Keen, Nicholas "Nicky" Bolton, Anselm "Earl" Kirby, Once Training School (Class 16) began on June 18, 1973 we were under the tutelage of Inspector Dave Parsons, Sgt. Barrie Meade, Sgt. Dick Murphy and A/Sgt Pat McBride.
My very first day of being in class I received a message from Sgt. Murphy that my wife had given birth to our daughter, and he told me I could be excused from class, if I wanted. I decided to go and visit Hospital at the end of class.
It didn’t take long before the whole class had formed a good camaraderie. It was a very informative experience. Our class did not complete the entire prescribed course time because of certain issues that were confronting the Island at the time. At our Passing Out Parade I received the Instructors Cup (Athletics) and PC Norman Ingemann received the Baton of Honour (Academics). Two of my classmates, PC Wayne Ingemann and PC Archie Husbands, became Godfathers for my newborn daughter Roneeka.
While still in Training School we particated in lots of sports activities including competing in the annual Police Sports day where I’m proud to say that I came 2nd to Jeff Payne in the distance race.
Competing in the annual Police Sports Day 1973
After graduating from Basic Training Course 16 I was assigned to Hamilton Police Station (HPS). My very first assignment to HPS was on ‘C’ Watch under Sgt. St.Clair “Brinky” Tucker who was an excellent Sergeant. CLICK HERE to view our “Then and Now” article on “Brinky” Tucker.
Those were the days when we walked the beat. There were times I was assigned as the observer in the HPS vehicle. Duty drivers I worked with included PC Archie Warner and PC Victor Payne. I really enjoyed my time in Central Division and worked with some great policemen including Derek Fletcher who eventually became my Watch Sergeant. Other Sergeants I worked under were Orson Daisley, Vendal Bridgeman, and later Dave Cook when I moved to Traffic.
Editors Note - CLICK HERE to read more about the above photo on our ExPo website “Who, Where and When" column .
Whilst in the Police Force, I served for two Spring-Summer seasons along with PC Ralph Lindo and PC Ralph Saints on the Beach Squad. Once I had served my period of probation I took my Sergeants examination and passed it at my first attempt. Periodically, in preparation to take the examination I would study with PC Custerfield Crockwell and WPC Clara Saunders.
I really enjoyed my time on the Police Force having worked in the Traffice Department, Special Branch and Travel Control Department, as well as the Narcotics Department, and as a Cadet Instructor with Sgt. Steve Petty and P.C. John Baxter.
CLICK HERE to view the article about our “Gardening Brigade”.
Whilst serving in Narcotics on Easter Sunday, April 15, 1979 at St. Paul AME Church I gave my heart to Jesus Christ. Several months after that I initiated a Police Christian Fellowship and we would meet from time to time at the Cadet Training School.
I continued to enjoy sports and played for the Police Football Team (BFA League) and for the Prospect Football Team (Commercial League). I also used to enjoy the Police Annual Sports track meet, when only Sgt. Jeff Payne was able to beat me in the long distance events.
The time finally came when the Lord laid on my heart and gave me a vision to prepare myself for the fulltime ministry. I resigned from the Bermuda Police Force in June 1981.
The next day I obtained my taxi driver’s licence which I still have to this day.
I left Bermuda at the age of 30 with a wife and two daughters to attend University and Seminary in preparation of my calling. If it wasn’t for my calling into the ministry my goal was to become a white-shirt officer (you guess what!)
I pastored seven AME Churches across five states in the United States, (Payne Chapel AME, Kenton, Ohio; Holy Trinity AME, Wilberforce, Ohio; Emmanuel AME, Tuckahoe, New York , Bethel AME, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, St Marks AME, Topeka, Kansas, St John AME, St Louis, Missouri, Cain-Grant AME, and Kansas City, Missouri.
I met my second wife, Tirzah, when I pastored in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and between us we had a combined family of 7 children. While serving in Baton Rouge I was a charter member of Red Stick Lions Club. I am also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. (better known as A Phi A)
Alpha Phi Alpha Shield
Editors Note - The prestigious Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is the oldest intercollegiate historically African-American fraternity founded in 1906 and has long stood at the forefront of the African-American community’s fight for civil rights.
I also served as the Chaplain for Wilberforce University becoming the first of two Bermudians to be assigned that post. I was a student at Payne Theological Seminary when I pastored my first two pastoral assignments as well as Chaplain of Wilberforce University when I also served as Pastor at Holy Trinity AME. All those responsibilities did not prevent me from graduating from Seminary at the top of my class.
Photo taken outside St. John AME Church, 
I returned to Bermuda in 2000 to help take care of my parents who have both since passed. On my return I applied for and became a bailiff and went on to become Head Bailiff/Provost Marshall.n
During the early 2000’s I served at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Hamilton, as well as Grace Methodist Church, on North Shore in Pembroke, I have been retired from the ministry since 2011 and have chosen to live a quiet life.
Ronnie and Yolanda with 
Rev. Ronald K Smith and Yolanda J Smith (wife) 
Ronnie’s Bermuda children 
I am a devoted husband, father of seven and bonus father of two, granddaddy of 12 with one on the way as well as a great granddaddy of two.
Let me conclude by saying that Bermuda Police Force afforded me a great opportunity in life and I have made and still have many friends from various nationalities as a result.
Ronald K Smith , BSc., Hons. MDiv.Hons.
Published September 2026
RRR