Black leaders explain to actor Sidney Poitier, center, plans for a fundraising drive to finance the Nashville Christian Leadership Council’s work. The Rev. Kelly M. Smith, left, council president, and Dr. Matthew Walker Sr., campaign chairman, talk with the actor before he addresses a rally on March 4, 1962. Jack Corn / The Tennessean

Diane Nash, left, Fisk junior and chairmen of the student protest group, and the Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, pastor of the First Baptist Church and president of the Nashville Christian Leadership council, confer before releasing a statement to reporters on their views of the sit-in demonstrations April 9, 1960. Gerald Holly / The Tennessean

Berl I. Bernhard, second from right, staff director of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, talks with attorney George Barrett, left, Rev. Kelly Miller Smith and another person before speaking at the opening session of the 4th annual meeting of the Tennessee Council on Human Relations at Vanderbilt University Divinity School on Oct. 27, 1961. Bernhard spoke at the Maxwell House Hotel before 140 blacks and whites at the event about desegregation in Tennessee and other states. Frank Empson / The Tennessean

Nashville business officials and black leaders gather in a committee meeting May 11, 1963 to attempt to resolve racial problems and prevent demonstrations like the one the day before in which three blacks were injured. Some of the leaders representing the black community are Rev. J. Metz Rollins, left, Rev. Will Campbell, in white suit on the inside of the table, Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, second from right of the inside of the table and John Lewis, second from right. Ed Shea, center next to the flag, was appointed by Mayor Beverly Briley to lead the meeting. Harold Lowe Jr. / The Tennessean

The Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, right, president of Nashville Christian Leadership Council and John Lewis, chairman of the Student Non-violence Committee of the NCLC, told a mass meeting of demonstrators May 10, 1963 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church on Jefferson St., not to protest in town until the outcome of the meeting between Nashville business officials and black leaders. Jack Corn / The Tennessean

Leaders Rev. Andrew White, second from left, Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, center left, and Rev. J. Metz Rollins, center right, lead the demonstrators in their segregation protest of the downtown YMCA Feb. 24, 1963. Rev. Smith read a statement that the YMCA is not alone in practicing segregation, but was selected because it symbolizes the fact that segregation still dominates the scene in downtown Nashville. Bill Preston / The Tennessean

Members of the First Baptist Church and demonstrators, including pastor Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, center, look on as two of their members get arrested on charges of brick throwing that broke a car windshield May 11, 1963. Harold Lowe Jr. / The Tennessean

The Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, left, is greeted by attorney Coyness L. Ennix Sr. upon his return back home Dec. 30, 1963 from Cleveland, Ohio. Rev. Smith, one of Nashville leaders in the fight for integration, returns to First Baptist Church after leaving last fall for the historic Antioch Baptist Church in Cleveland. Dale Ernsberger / The Tennessean

The Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, center, is enthusiastically greeted by a well-wisher upon his return back home Dec. 30, 1963 from Cleveland, Ohio. Rev. Smith, one of Nashville leaders in the fight for integration, returns to First Baptist Church after leaving last fall for the historic Antioch Baptist Church in Cleveland. Rev. Smith said he is back in Nashville “for good.” Dale Ernsberger / The Tennessean

Ed Shea, left, executive vice-president of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, presents the Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill, with a plaque commemorating the church’s 100 years of community service Nov. 21, 1965. In the background is a sketch of the church’s new building. Joe Rudis / The Tennessean

Breaking ground for the new First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill Sept. 13, 1970 are Ola Jenelle Martin, 7, the youngest member, and Mrs. Emma J. Hynes, representing elder members, center. Looking on are Clinton Jones, left, building fund chairman; the Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, pastor, and Dr. Lloyd C. Elam, chairman of the groundbreaking program. The new structure is expected to be complete in the late 1971. Joe Rudis / The Tennessean

The Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, center, pastor of First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill, shows church members an old newspaper that was placed in the cornerstone of the church building, built in 1896. Robert Johnson / The Tennessean

The Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, top right, helps his five children open their Christmas presents given by church members upon their return back home Dec. 30, 1963 from Cleveland, Ohio. Rev. Smith, one of Nashville leaders in the fight for integration, returns to First Baptist Church after leaving last fall for the historic Antioch Baptist Church in Cleveland. Dale Ernsberger / The Tennessean

Dr. Cecile E. Crump, center, chairman of the dedication committee of the First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill, shows Dr. Samuel B. McKinney, left, of Seattle, Wash., the dedication brochure as the church’s pastor, the Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, right, looks on May 21, 1972. Robert Johnson / The Tennessean

Dr. Edwin Mitchell, candidate for the legislature from the 54th District, center, leaves First Baptist Church Capitol Hill with the church’s pastor, the Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, left, and the Rev. John L. Glenn of St. Luke’s CME Church after a press conference July 27, 1972, with 21 ministers backing Mitchell for the seat. Joe Rudis / The Tennessean

The Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, center, and members of the Cornerstone Committee of First Baptist Church and Capitol Hill, examines the cornerstone of the church’s new sanctuary, under construction at 900 James Robertson Parkway Oct. 24, 1971. The new building will cost about $500,000. J.T. Phillips / The Tennessean

Mrs. Jan Vuijst, center, from Holland and her husband, The Rev. Vuijst, right, appear amused at a story and picture in a Nashville newspaper that the Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, their Nashville host, is showing them Aug. 3, 1973. Behind them are children of the couple, Frake, left, a journalist, and Peter. Rev. Vuijst, a Dutch Reform Church pastor in Holland, is in Nashville visiting Rev. Smith and sharing the services at the first Baptish Church, Capitol Hill, where Smith is pastor. Frank Empson / The Tennessean

The Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, left, and Miss Frances Thompson, an artist and portrait painter, admire Miss Thompson’s portrait Dec. 23, 1973 of the Rev. Nelson Merry, first pastor of the First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill. Merry pastored the church from 1853-1885 and his portrait is in the church’s Nelson Merry room. Joe Rudis / The Tennessean

Dr. David Satcher, left, president of Meharry Medical College, talks with Dr. Kelly Miller Smith, pastor of First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill, after speaking at a Health Care Day service at the church July 11, 1982. Dale Ernsberger / The Tennessean

Dr. Kelly Miller Smith, center, pastor of the First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill, addresses a groundbreaking ceremony July 15, 1979 for a new apartment complex to serve the elderly and handicapped. His church is the sponsor of the building. J.T. Phillips / The Tennessean

Dr. Lucius Walker Jr., center, associate general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ, talks to the Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, right, pastor of the First Baptist Church Capitol Hill, and the Rev. Peter Paris, minister of social concerns, at a reception following church services at First Baptist Sept. 22, 1974. Robert Johnson / The Tennessean

The Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, right, pastor of First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill, and Clinton E. Jones, a deacon and chairman of the church’s finance committee, check plans Dec. 2, 1979 for the First Baptist Capitol Hill Homes, a high-rise apartment complex for aged and handicapped on Cliff Drive. Billy Easley / The Tennessean

The Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, second from right, pastor at First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill, listens to the choir during services that commemorated his 25th anniversary at the Church March 21, 1976. Adena Wright, second from left, one of Smith’s daughters and his wife, Alice Smith, right, joined him. Gerald Holly / The Tennessean

Scores of floral tributes and hundreds of people attend a “Memorial Celebration” June 6, 1984 at First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill, in honor of the late Rev. Dr. Kelly Miller Smith. Rev. Smith, 63, died June 3rd in Hubbard Hospital of cancer. Ricky Rogers / The Tennessean

Alice Smith, left, wife of the Rev. Dr. Kelly Miller Smith, left, her son, the Rev. Kelly Miller Smith Jr., and other members of the immediate family sit in the front row of the First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill, June 6, 1984 for the ‘Memorial Celebration.’ Ricky Rogers / The Tennessean

The casket of Rev. Kelly Miller Smith is leaving the First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill, June 7, 1984 after the service and heads for Greenwood Cemetery for burial. Coretta Scott King and John Lewis were at the services. Dan Loftin / The Tennessean

The family of the late Rev. Kelly Miller Smith Sr. witnesses the tribute paid to the civil rights and church leader by the Metro Human Relations Commission and the local American Civil Liberties Union Dec. 10, 1984. Family members include Mrs. and Rev. Kelly Miller Smith Jr., left, their daughter, Sharanda, and Mrs. Kelly Miller Smith Sr. Robert Johnson / The Tennessean

The Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, pastor of First Baptist Church, discusses plans April 4, 1964 for building a new structure at the present church site, 319 Eighth Ave., N. Behind him is the historic, 69-year-old church building that will be razed when the new one is constructed. Jack Corn / The Tennessean