INSTRUCTOR’S BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Dr. James W. Smith was born and reared in Louisburg (Franklin County) North Carolina where he attended the public schools. He graduated from the former Perry's High School and later attended North Carolina Central University and NCCU Law School where he earned both degrees, a Bachelor of Science in Commerce and a Juris Doctorate. 

After practicing law for years, Dr. Smith became a compulsive gambler and his legal career ended in 1981 when he surrendered his law license and was later disbarred as a result of an ethical violation and a felony conviction. He has been confined in Dorothea Dix Mental Hospital and the Federal Correctional Institutional.  Dr. Smith is no longer a compulsive gambler and has become a productive citizen. He went back to school, attending Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, North Carolina, Shaw Divinity School, Raleigh, North Carolina and eventually receiving his Master of Divinity and Doctorate of Ministry degrees from Andersonville Theological Seminary, Camilla, Georgia.

Since his release, he became an In-Prison Seminar Instructor and has taught seminars to inmates on Death Row at Central Prison, Raleigh, North Carolina; the Federal Correctional Institution, Butner, North Carolina and the Federal Maximum Security Prison in Leavenworth, Kansas. He has served as Vice Moderator at Large and Moderator of the East Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Association, Inc., Moderator of Moderators for the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, Inc. and President of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Durham and Vicinity.

Presently, Dr. Smith serves on the United Negro College Fund Steering Committee, Durham, North Carolina, the General Board of the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and the Executive Committee of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Durham and Vicinity.  He is a columnist for the Baptist Informer of the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and the Durham Spectacular. He is a voluntary instructor at the Federal Correctional Institution, Butner, NC.  Since March 1991, he has served as Pastor of Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Bahama, North Carolina.  In additional to his pastorate, he is self-employed as a Church Consultant, an Inspirational/Motivational Speaker and as a NC State Bar approved sponsor of Continuing Legal Education. He is the author of a published book entitled, “Deal By Me” where he documented his experiences and now shares his story with others.