Matthew Allen Smith

Matthew Allen Smith, 33, of Birmingham, Alabama passed away December 13, 2021. He was born July 21, 1988 in Birmingham, Alabama, son of Jimmy Smith and Linda Coogan. Matthew was a proud Alabama native with a passion for working with young people and a full-hearted belief in the healing power of laughter. In 2015, he and his mother, Linda, co-founded the AlaQuest Collaborative for Education in honor of his brother, Joshua. He served as Executive Director for ACE. ACE is dedicated to making Social and Emotional Learning an integral part of education in Alabama. He worked as a Field instructor for a wilderness therapy program in the mountains of Georgia, served as co-director for the Anytown Social Justice Leadership Summit in Central Alabama, taught US history for a traveling school in New England, and worked as an environmental educator for the Cahaba Environmental Center near Montevallo, Alabama.While studying Human Ecology at the University of Alabama, Matthew also served as an AmeriCorps member through the YWCA of Central Alabama and traveled to local schools to facilitate discussions on dating violence prevention and crisis management. Matthew was a certified life coach, teacher and leadership trainer. He was also certified in Transformative Leadership for Organizational Development, Responding to Adverse Childhood Experiences, Youth Mental Health First Aid, Social Justice Leadership, and Crisis Prevention and Intervention. Matthew held the role of Vice-President for Birmingham’s Community Affairs Committee Young Partners, an organization focused on promoting human rights and improving race relations in the city of Birmingham. He was a member of the Alabama Safe Schools Coalition Coordinating Committee, and served as a member of Mayor Randall Woodfin's LGBTQ+ Advisor Board for the city of Birmingham. Surviving are his Mother, Linda (Danny) Coogan; Step-Brother, David (Jamie) Coogan; Partners, Corey Harvard, Lindsey Mullen; Niece, Ellie Coogan; A host of Aunts, Uncles and Cousins. He was preceded in death by his Brother, Joshua Smith; Father, Jimmy Smith; Grandfather, William Cuzzort; Grandmother, Ruby Louise Cuzzort; Grandmother, Ruby Loese Baird; Grandfather, James Luther Smith. Friends will be received Thursday, December 16, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Martin Funeral Home Chapel. Services will be held Thursday, December 16, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. at Martin Funeral Home Chapel with Robert Emerick officiating. Interment will follow in Antioch Methodist Cemetery, Maplesville, Alabama. A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 18, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at Riverchase Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, please donate to ACE at www.acealabama.org. Martin Funeral Home directing. You may leave online condolences for the family on the guest registry at www.martinfuneralhomeinc.com.