LaBradford Scott Smith, our beloved son, brother, nephew, cousin, and friend, died on April 21, 2021 at his brother’s home in Woodbridge, VA surrounded by his family after a heroic battle with cancer.  LaBradford, 30 years old, was born in Portsmouth, VA on April 8, 1991 to Faye Rodgers Williams and Timmey Smith.  He remained a lifetime resident of Portsmouth, VA.

LaBradford was educated in Portsmouth Public Schools and a 2010 graduate of I.C. Norcom High School.  While at Norcom, he was a member of the track and field and soccer teams.  LaBradford previously worked as a machine operator and packer at Smithfield Packing Company in Smithfield, VA for five years.  During his time at Smithfield, he had the pleasure to work alongside his father and everyone knew that he was “Tim Smith’s son!”  He was most recently employed as a loader/unloader with Target Distribution Center in Suffolk, VA.

LaBradford enjoyed sharing stories about his work experiences with family and friends and would let anyone know that “I love warehouse work!”  Even during his final bout with cancer, he let everyone, including his medical team, know that he planned to return to work. LaBradford was the Las Vegas Raiders’ #1 Fan and would talk trash whether they won or lost! He was also a huge fan of the Los Angeles Lakers and admired Kobe Bryant.  If you really knew LaBradford, then you know he loved R&B music, especially old school R&B!  He enjoyed playing basketball, cooking on the grill at Quinton’s house, watching action movies (he insisted that he watched all of the action movies on Netflix), spending time with family and friends, and just relaxing.  LaBradford was a food critic and had no problem telling you if the food you prepared did not meet his satisfaction.  However, he did enjoy meals prepared by his mother, even those he woke her up out of her sleep to prepare.  While undergoing his cancer treatment, he looked forward to talking to his father and his daily video chats with his mother and brother, Travon (aka Keith Sweat).

LaBradford won his first bout with cancer in 2007 and remained cancer free until his most recent diagnosis in 2019.  In 2019, he was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer; therefore, he sought medical treatment from the Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center in Baltimore, MD.  He underwent several surgeries and treatments.  Through it all, he never complained about what he was enduring and always maintained his faith and trust in God.  Even when his medical team informed him that there were no beneficial treatments left, he accepted this prognosis and elected to receive at-home hospice care.  While receiving cancer treatments and then while receiving hospice care, if anyone asked him how he was doing, he would simply reply “I’m ok” and continued to live his life to the fullest.

He leaves to cherish his memory his parents, his two brothers, Arkuie Williams and Travon Williams, and a host of uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends.

Although we will miss LaBradford daily, his acceptance of Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior should help to comfort hearts.  His life should be an example of the faith we should have as we endure trials and tribulations. Life well-lived and until we meet again, we will always love you!