Join us to honor the Legacy of Michael D. Smith and his family with two new Memorial Wells in Africa and India in lieu of flowers. 

This past Fourth of July weekend brought an unimaginable loss. Our beloved friends and lifelong supporters of Relief Network Ministries, Michael D. Smith and his cherished wife Pamela Smith, perished in a tragic flood near the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas. Alongside them were their beloved granddaughter and son-in-law—lives taken far too soon but never forgotten.

​

Michael and Pamela embodied the spirit of service. For over 16 years, Michael served as Board Secretary of Relief Network Ministries, Inc., faithfully guiding our mission to bring clean water and hope to those in need. Their compassion wasn't confined to words—through their generous giving, they helped sustain and sponsor life-saving wells not only in Africa, but also in India, reflecting their deep love for both continents and the communities within.

In honor of their legacy, we are launching a Memorial Well Campaign – to transform grief into hope through meaningful Memorial Tribute Wells:

• A Deep Memorial Well in Africa, to celebrate Michael and Pamela’s tireless devotion to our cause and their passion for bringing dignity and clean water to underserved villages.

• A companion Memorial Well in India, dedicated to the memory of their granddaughter and son-in-law, symbolizing generational love, family, and global compassion.

These wells will stand as living monuments—sources of life flowing from tragedy, reflecting a legacy of faith, generosity, and purpose.

​

🙏 How You Can Give

Your gift—no matter the size—will go directly toward the drilling and development of these two Memorial Wells. Michael’s past contributions, often matched by Shell Oil Company where he retired after a distinguished career, catalyzed a remarkable impact. Let’s honor that legacy with one final matching: grief met with grace.

​

 

​Why Memorial Wells?

Michael believed in water—not just as a human need but as a sacred symbol of renewal. Each well tells a story. And this story—of four lives intertwined by love, swept away in tragedy, but remembered through lasting restoration—deserves to be told through the sound of water pouring into dry ground.

​

In Loving Memory of:

• Michael D. Smith – RNM Board Secretary (Retired Senior Shell Business Analyst)

• Pamela Smith – his beloved wife (Retired Chevron Staff with some professional contributions to Chevron in Nigeria)

• Their granddaughter – Blake Carpenter

• Their son-in-law – Brian Carpenter. United in love. Remembered in legacy.

​

💧 Direct Community Benefits

• Access to Clean Water: Each well provides safe drinking water to hundreds of people daily, reducing waterborne illnesses and mortality rates, especially among children.

• Improved Hygiene & Sanitation: Communities gain the ability to wash, cook, and clean safely, fostering overall health and dignity.

• Economic Empowerment: Freed from the time-consuming task of fetching water, women and children can pursue education and income-generating activities.

​

🌍 Honoring Legacy Through Service

• Michael & Pamela's Lifelong Commitment: Their history of sponsoring wells in Africa and India comes full circle—transforming tragedy into renewal in regions they passionately supported.

• Multi-Generational Tribute: Memorializing their granddaughter and son-in-law creates a ripple effect of remembrance, bridging generations through life-giving acts.

​

🛠 Strengthening Relief Network’s Mission

• Sustained Impact: These projects reinforce Relief Network Ministries’ reputation for tangible change and responsible stewardship.

• Community Engagement: Donors and supporters feel personally connected through tribute wells, elevating transparency, emotional resonance, and global solidarity.

​🕊 Legacy as a Living Testimony

These wells become visible monuments to the love and generosity of the Smith family—etched not in stone, but in every drop lifted from the earth. It's restoration in their names, and hope flowing from their story.

 

The Ripple Effect of Memorial Wells: Honoring the Smith Family Legacy

🌍 Location: Africa - Nigeria and South India

💧 Purpose: Memorial Well for Michael & Pamela Smith | Tribute Well for their granddaughter Blake & son-in-law: Brian Carpenter

👥 Lives Touched: Africa in Nigeria 1000+ villagers | South India: ​800+ rural families with clean water and restored hope

​​

🔧 Practical Benefits

• 🏥 Health Improvement: Reduces diseases from unsafe water

• 🧼 Hygiene Access: Enables cooking, washing, and sanitation

• 🎒 Education Boost: Children no longer walk miles for water

​​

Symbol of Legacy

These wells do more than serve—they speak:

• Echoing Michael’s service as board secretary and matched gifts

• Reflecting Pamela’s compassion and global commitment

• Immortalizing their family’s love through generational impact

​​

You Can Help Build the Story

Every donation brings their memory to life:

• 💝 $25 = Provides 1 person with access to clean water for 10 years

• 💧 $100 = Supplies a family with health, dignity, and time

• 💎 $500+ = Sponsors a lasting tribute engraved on the well site

 

PLEASE DONATE NOW for these 2 tribute wells. (Use the Well Drilling option)

               

                   Gala 2024: Picture => LT to RT: MIKE, PAM, SAIMA, SUNNY