Home > People > Reginald D. Smith II > Reginald D. Smith, II - On his parents career in education
Oral History

Reginald D. Smith, II - On his parents career in education

Interviewed by Kathy Atwater and Mae McLendon on March 12, 2024

"Are you learning something today that’s going to help you tomorrow?"

- Reginald D. Smith, II

In this interview, Reginald D. Smith, II reflects on his upbringing in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, as the son of two educators. He discusses his family’s emphasis on education, the influence of teachers and coaches, and the community role models who shaped his life. Smith recalls childhood experiences, his college years, helping in his father’s garden, and the changes he has observed in Chapel Hill over time, including shifts in schools, property ownership, and community spaces. He also speaks about his love of math and music, his civic engagement, and the values of hard work and service instilled by his parents.

Reginald D. Smith, II - On his parents career in education

View Summary
View Text

Tags: , , ,

Oral history interview of Smith, II, Reginald D. conducted by Atwater, Kathy on March 12, 2024 at Marian Cheek Jackson Center, Chapel Hill, NC. Processed by Schwerman, Riley.

Citation: Marian Cheek Jackson Center, “Reginald D. Smith, II - On his parents career in education,” From the Rock Wall, accessed September 13, 2026, https://fromtherockwall.org/oral-histories/reginald-d-smith-ii-on-his-parents-career-in-education.

"We’re writing our own history, thank you!"

Ms. Esphur Foster

Want to add in?  Have a different view?  What do you think? Want to upload your own photos or documents?

History is not the past.  It’s the sense we make of the past now. Click below to RESPOND—and be part of making history today.

Respond

In this Oral History

Reginald D. Smith II

Reginald D. Smith II, goes by Reggie, raised in Northside with his three siblings by Euzelle and R.D. Smith, both of whom were prominent educators in the area. Reggie Smith still lives in North Carolina and has two adult children.
Back to Reginald D. Smith II