Lake Smith, Jr. was born in Greenwood, Mississippi on August 20, 1929 to Lake and Rebecca Word Smith. He later moved to Greenville, MS and graduated from Greenville High School in 1947. On July 2, 1947 he entered the Marine Corps where he served as an enlisted man for 15 years and was commissioned as a Warrant Officer in 1962. He served four tours of duty in Puerto Rico, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Korea, Vietnam, and Okinawa. After 22 years, he retired with his final earned rank of Captain. After the service, Lake earned his associate degree in business management and worked for several companies including Flint Steel Corporation, Memphis Furniture, and Floyd Fire Extinguisher.

In March of 1950, Lake married his high school sweetheart Dorothy Lee St. Clair (preceeded in death on August 19, 2010). They were married 60 years and had four children, Richard Lake Smith (Gertie), James Smith, Kathy Elrod (Bobby), and Karen Stewart (Robert). He had nine grandchildren, Richard Lake Smith Jr., Melissa Smith Rodgers (Jenn), Jesse Smith (Alisha), Michael Smith, Lake Smith, Jeremy Woods, (preceeded in death on June 6, 1995), Jason Woods (Aimee), Blake Carr (Brittney), Elliot Stewart, and Olivia Stewart; and nine great grandchildren, Alexandra Smith, Serena Wesley, Samantha Salfali, Ayden Smith, Ava Smith, Noah Woods, Scarlett Woods, Cohen Woods, and Evelyn Carr. Lake was the spiritual foundation for his family as well as an attentive husband, father, and grandfather. His love for the University of Mississippi, Ole Miss Football, was infamous. For years, he wore his red and blue suit to church on the Sunday's that the Rebels pulled out a win and his black suit after a loss. Hotty Toddy!

Lake had a love for the church and those within it. He attended Frayser Heights United Methodist Church and later St. Paul United Methodist Church. Over the years he developed a passion for evangelism and served various roles, including in finance, Stephens Ministries, Chair of the Church Board, Council of Ministries, Stewardship, Lay Speaker, and Lay Leader. After retirement, Lake and Dot made a pledge to St. Paul UMC for the new sanctuary being built. Lake took a job with Pfizer delivering pharmaceuticals to honor this pledge. Lake never met a stranger. His contagious energy and loving spirit were a blessing, and everyone loved his famous greeting of "Hello, Young Lady" or "Hello, Young Man" (regardless of the recipient's age).

In April 2011, Lake married fellow St. Paul church member Joyce Collier, a widow of five years. This marriage gained him Joyce's daughter Debbie (Keith) Penney and three step-grandchildren, Aubree, Kaedmon, and Keaton Ellis Penney. Joyce and Lake enjoyed traveling, working puzzles, and watching their beloved Hallmark Movies.

Lake Smith, Jr. was decidedly the man descripted in Philemon 1:7 (ESV), "Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God's people.