Calvin E. Smith- “Bird”

life story

A loving son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend.

Calvin—known to many as Bird and Vino—will forever live on in our hearts and in the memories we hold close.

About Calvin:

Calvin E. Smith, age 55, departed this life on March 28, 2026, in Plymouth, Minnesota. He was born on January 30, 1971, in Clifton, Illinois, to Terry L. Smith and Rosa M. Smith.

Calvin was an avid sports fan whose love for athletics began in childhood, where he was coached by his father in minor league baseball—memories he carried with him throughout his life. Affectionately known as “Bird” among his childhood friends, he was known for his warmth, loyalty, and easygoing spirit, qualities that stayed with him wherever he went.

He developed a passion for cooking at an early age, later spending part of his young adulthood working as a cook and assisting his aunt in her restaurant. Calvin truly never met a stranger—his infectious smile, hearty laugh, and natural sense of humor made him the beloved comedian of his family and the heart of every room. He had a special way of bringing people together, leaving a lasting impression on everyone he met.

A graduate of Kankakee High School, Class of 1989, Calvin experienced the profound loss of his mother, a moment that deeply shaped his journey. In the years that followed, he moved to Chicago before eventually settling in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he made a home for himself and built a strong, loving community of friends who became like family.

He leaves to cherish his memory his father, Terry L. Smith of Kankakee, Illinois; his siblings, Cassandra Smith of Kankakee, Illinois; Pamela (Al) Davis of Aubrey, Texas; and Raven Smith of Chicago, Illinois. He also leaves behind his beloved nieces and nephew: Rashawna Smith of Indianapolis, Indiana; Keyai (Aaron) Driggs of Keller, Texas; Donald (DJ) Brooks of Kankakee, Illinois; and Niveyah Ivy and Ni’Yona Wright of Chicago, Illinois. He is further survived by his great-niece and great-nephew, MaKyia Smith and D’Airis Smith of Indianapolis, Indiana; his aunts and uncles, Barbara Fleming, Marsha Smith-Lloyd, Virgie Williams, Valerie Snow, Delores Smith, Autumn (Rodell) Young, Arthur Johnson, Kimberly (Leo) McCarty, Inez (Nikki) Streeter, and Delbert Smith; a host of cousins; many dear friends and loved ones who will miss him deeply; and a stepbrother, Anthony Lawrence.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Rosa M. Smith, Cameron Wicks; paternal grandparents, Theodore and Versie Smith; maternal grandparents, Ezell and Elizabeth Lee; uncles and aunts, Theodore Smith Jr., Larry Smith, Ezell Lee Jr., John Ford, Walter Carr, Earnestine Phillips, Rosemary Lee, and Dillard Denise Smith; and a special cousin, Christopher Lloyd.

memorial service

Mound Grove Cemetery 1000 N Greenwood Ave, Kankakee, IL 60901, USA

Calvin was cremated and will be laid to rest beside his mother at Mound Grove Cemetery in Kankakee, Illinois. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held in Kankakee this summer, with details to be shared at a later time.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Crescent Tide Cremation Services