Members of the community said goodbye Friday to Memphis journalist and activist Bernal Smith. People from across the country attended his service at Mt. Vernon Baptist Westwood.
More than a dozen tributes were presented from city and state lawmakers, his fraternity – Alpha Phi Alpha, and 100 Black Men of America, an organization he used to lead.
Smith is credited with turning around the New Tri-State Defender when he bought the historic paper in 2013. His accomplishments were recognized by the National Newspapers Publishers Association.